Flood-affected villagers move to dry areas

Saharsa, Sep 4: Villagers of flood-affected areas in Bihar have taken their livestock to safer places. People in the state's Madhepura District, one of the worst affected areas, have lost most of their belongings in the flood and have moved to neighbouring Saharsa District along with their livestock.

"Water has entered our houses, some stock flown away and I could save some of my livestock. There is nothing to eat, neither for us nor for the cattle. There should be some arrangement," said Raghu, a villager.

About 700-800 livestock have taken shelter in a school premises in Saharsa. Lack of proper facilities makes the villagers apprehensive of their remaining assets.

"There is nothing to feed the livestock, but we are managing somehow," said Shambu, another villager.

The latest flooding occurred after the Kosi river burst a dam in Nepal earlier this month and changed its course, swamping hundreds of villages in Bihar and destroying more than 100,000 hectares of farmlands.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi recently announced 228 million U.S. dollars in aid for rescue and recovery efforts.

ANI