2,163 lives lost in 2007 floods : Govt

New Delhi, Aug 29 (UNI) As many as 2,163 human lives were lost in the recent rains, flash floods and landslides across 22 states of the country, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Home V Radhika Selvi, in a written reply, said that the number of cattles killed were estimated to be over 90,000 while 11,77,000 houses got damaged and 50,369 lakh hectares of crop-bearing lands were affected.

She said maximum number of human fatalities were in Bihar (450), Gujarat (375), Kerala (239), Uttar Pradesh (216), West Bengal (212) and Karnataka 148.

The execution and rescue and relief measures in the event of natural disasters is primarily the responsibility of the concerned state government and distribution of relief was also made by the state, she said, adding that the Centre only supplements the efforts by providing financial and logistic support. The states also take necessary steps to prevent outbreak of any epidemic in the flood-affected areas, Ms Selvi added.

UNI