3 Sep :The Centre has assured all possible assistance to the Bihar government in the wake of the ongoing flood relief and rescue operations. A high-level team of the officials from the Centre lead by the Cabinet Secretary Shri K M Chandrasekhar, met the Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar and senior state officials in Patna yesterday. The Cabinet Secretary informed the Chief Minister about the ongoing relief operations carried out by the armed forces and other central agencies and assured him that the efforts would continue in full swing. He has asked the state administration to provide the details of further assistance required by them. Shri Nitish Kumar appreciated the assistance given by the Armed Forces and desired that the main focus should be on rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.
He sought for more columns of Army for evacuation of the marooned persons and the Air Force for dropping of relief material. Regarding the repair of the Bheem barrage on river Kosi where the breach took place, the Centre has offered the help of Army Engineers and the Border Roads Organisation. The State Relief Commissioner has requested for more supplies of food, medicines and baby food. He has also sought veterinary services and establishment of relief camps wherever the railway heads are available.
He also emphasized that efforts should be strengthened for evacuation of the stranded people. The Indian Air Force is operating 11 helicopters, 3 IL-76, 13 AN-32 and 2 Avro aircraft for evacuation and dropping of relief materials. About 100 boats are being sent to the flood affected areas today. The Cabinet Secretary was accompanied by Shri Vijay Singh Defence Secretary, Shri U N Panjiar Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Shri Jarnail Singh Secretary Border Management (Ministry of Home Affairs) and other senior officials.