Ministers to camp in flood-hit districts:Nitish

Patna, Aug 3 (UNI) Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his cabinet colleagues and special district magistrates today rushed to the flood-hit districts to monitor the relief work.

Mr Kumar also left for an aerial survey of the affected areas this morning.

Reviewing the situation in Motihari and Sitamarhi districts, he said the special DMs would assist the officiating DM in the relief work. He asked them to hold meetings with public representatives, NGOs and media persons to assess the situation and ensure proper relief and rehabilitation.

Mr Kumar also asked the ministers, who were earlier given the charge of different districts, to supervise relief work and the situation in their jurisdiction.

While reviewing the flood situation in a high level meeting soon after his arrival from Mauritius late last night, Mr Kumar directed the ministers to camp in the districts they had been given the charge of and interact with those affected to assess the exact problems and needs of the area.

He directed the state chief secretary and the secretary of the disaster management cell to contact the army for seeking their help in air-dropping relief materials. A special committee was also constituted to decide the modalities and procuring releif material.

During the extensive review he said crops in 1.50 lakh hectares was damaged in the flood.

UNI