Bihar floods: Advani to meet Manmohan Singh

New Delhi/Purnia/Patna, Sep 3: L K Advani, the senior BJP leader will meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Wednesday, Sep 3 to seek a solution to the problem of recurrent floods in Bihar, where around 25 lakh people have been rendered homeless in the worst ever floods in the Kosi region.

Advani, who made an aerial survey of flood-ravaged regions of Bihar along with State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday, Sep 2, said, "Since the recurrent floods in Bihar caused by rivers originating in Nepal have international dimensions, I would meet the Prime Minister on Wednesday to seek both long and short term solutions to the problem in coordination with the government in the Himalayan country." "In today's situation, everybody should come together to help rather than indulging in mud sledging," Advani added. Advani who surveyed Kishanganj, Virpur, Bhimnagar, Triveniganj, Purnia,adhepura and Supaul, called for concerted efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims.

The state's main opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had earlier lashed out at the state administration, accusing it of laxity in providing relief to the flood victims.

Nitish Kumar said he was confident of providing better help to the flood victims.

"We are confident that we will send flood victims to their places and provide them better dwellings than they had in the past. I tell everybody that we have taken it as a challenge and will accomplish this task with everybody's support," Kumar said.

The flooding, the worst in 50 years, was caused after the Kosi River breached a dam in Nepal. 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