Nitish seeks Pranab's intervention in flood control from Nepal

Patna, Aug 18 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today sought the External Affairs ministry's immediate intervention for receiving necessary ''admininistrative assistance'' from Nepal to carry out urgent repair of the Kosi embankment which breached and inundated 40 villages on Indo-Nepal border yesterday.

Informing this Bihar Water Resources Minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav told UNI here that Mr Kumar had a telephonic talk with External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee regarding administrative help from Nepal government for repairing the eastern embankment of the swollen Kosi which breached near Vaiosthan inundating 40 villages, most of which were in the Himalayan state.

Incidentally, the road between Viratnagar and Kathmandu also inundated following the breach of embankment disrupting the movement of vehicular traffic, the minister informed.

In accordance with the ''Indo-Nepal agreement,'' the repairing work of the breached embankment was to be carried out by the Indian engineers and officers despite the area fell under the territory of Nepal, Mr Yadav said adding, however, the Nepal government was to extend all administrative assistance in this regard.

Regretting that no administrative help had so far been rendered by the Nepal government, Mr Yadav said even the Bihar government engineers were prevented by the local people from reaching the spot. In fact, an anarchy like situation was prevailing in the area,he added.

Meanwhile, JD(U)President and former union minister Sharad Yadav, who is presently in Kathmandu to attend the oath taking ceremony of newly elected Nepalese Prime Minister Prachanda, also requested the Nepal government to rush administrative help to the region in this regard.

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