Lalu to brief PM about Bihar floods today

New Delhi, Aug 25 : Railway Minister and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav will brief Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today on Bihar floods and will also ask him to visit the flood-affected areas in his state.

In a noble gesture, Lalu has made available the services of the Railways to carry food supplies and relief material free of cost in the flood-affected areas.

During his meeting, he will inform the Prime Minister about the calamity and the failures of the State Government presently run by the BJP-JD-U combine.

Yesterday, Lalu made an aerial survey of flood-affected areas as the Kosi river wreaks havoc in several districts, swamping farmlands, destroying homes and claiming several lives.

Most of the other rivers in the state, including the Ganga, Punpun, Ghaghra, Burhigandak, Bagmati, and Mahananda are also flowing above the danger level.

Lalu, who made survey of Araria, Purnea, Madhepura and other flood-affected districts, blamed the State Government for not taking enough precautionary measures in time.

"Water is inundated to five feet here. Nearly 100,000 people have been displaced and water is not receding. The State Government should have been cautious at such time, particularly when it has promised to take up flood protection work in time, on the basis of past experience.

But the situation is painful. We are with the people of the state in such hour of crisis," he said in Purnea.

ANI