Hungry flood victims loot relief material in Bihar

{image-Flood victims in Bihar_02092008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Madhepura (Bihar), Sep 2: Flood victims in Bihar's rain-drenched Madhepura District are looting relief material as the deluge continues to affect life across the state.

Some victims aided a government-run depot storing food materials. Victims said the flooded areas were facing an acute shortage of essential supplies. "People are hungry and they are running from pillar to post to get food. Instead of food, we got baton charged by the police. We want food," said Kumar, a victim. Officials said the victims' patience snapped when the officer manning the depot tried to impose some restriction in food distribution.

"Ration was stored here to distribute among the flood victims. The Block Development Officer told people to form a queue for proper distribution of the material. Later on, he decided that the material would be distributed with a different arrangement. Listening to this, the victims went berserk and beat some policemen and also looted the ration," said Ram Chandra Singh, a police official.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi recently announced 228 million US dollars in aid for rescue and recovery efforts. The flooding, the worst in 50 years, was caused after the Kosi River breached a dam in Nepal, from where it originates. This unleashed huge waves of water that smashed mud embankments downstream in Bihar state. The waters of Kosi gushed into the state inundating vast areas and affecting around two million people.

ANI