Evacuation of victims complete,focus shifts on relief

Patna, Sep 9 (UNI) With an improvememt in the flood situation, the Bihar government was now focusing on providing relief to 2.57 lakh flood victims.

With the Kosi maintaining a receding trend and the evacuation drive of marooned people getting almost over, the government's attention was focussed on 313 relief centres, intended to be run in flood ravaged areas for a longer period.

''Rescue operation of the state government is almost over as more than 9.14 lakh flood victims have been shifted to safer places and about 2.57 lakh people are taking shelter in 313 relief centres in flood-ravaged areas of the state,'' Minister of state for Disaster Management Nitish Mishra said today.

He said the state government was now contemplating to stop air dropping of food packets and other essentials as most of them had been evacuated and were taking shelter in relief centres.

''The state government has issued strict instruction to concerned officers to improve the facilities and other amenities at the relief centres and anyone found lacking in discharging his duties would be not be spared,'' Mr Mishra said, adding the sincereity of the state government could be gauged from the fact that the chief minister himself was visiting several such centres.

Mr Kumar has also announced to give Rs 11,000 to each girl child born in relief camps while a new born boy would get Rs 10,000.

MORE UNI KKS PL RL ND1732