Authorities step up relief work in flood hit Madhepura district of Bihar

Madhepura (Bihar), Aug 30 : Authorities on Saturday stepped up relief work in Madhepura district of Bihar as people are facing acute shortage of essential commodities.

Besides floodwater, which has become ubiquitous these days in the Bihar, what was seen in Madhepura today were long queues of people waiting for cooking gas, being distributed with the help of police.

"Floodwater is entering very fast in Madhepura which is leading to loss of property and life. People are facing shortage of essential commodities as well. Now it's a welcome step that (cooking) gas is being distributed with the help of police," said Arjun Shah, a resident.

People including women waited for long hours to get the fuel as they face acute shortage of supplies due to disrupted transportation.

"If we get gas it will be very good but flood is our main problem as water has swept across all the places," said Savita Gupta, another resident.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi flew over devastated areas by helicopter on Thursday and announced 228 million dollars in aid and declared the floods in the state national calamity.

About 85 people have been killed and more than two million displaced by floodwaters that have smashed houses and destroyed 100,000 hectares of farmland.

ANI