Four more persons died due to the severe Nor’wester, which ravaged 12 districts of Bihar on Tuesday night – rising the toll to 48 – on Thursday.
“Four more deaths have been reported from Purnea district taking the toll to 48 in the tropical storm in parts of Bihar,” said Principal Secretary Disaster Management Vyas Jee.
Purnea bore the brunt with a maximum of 32 casualties, while seven lost their lives in Madhepura. The remaining deaths were reported from the other 10 affected districts, Vyas Jee said.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made an aerial survey of the affected areas in Bhagalpur and neighbouring storm-ravaged locations on Thursday morning and held a meeting with senior officials at Bhagalpur, Chief Minister Office sources said.
The CM had said crops have also severely been damaged. In fact, the maize crop has been completely flattened.
Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi has expressed grief at the casualties and damage to dwellings in Seemanchal and Koshi regions of the state. He has asked the state government to pay Rs 4 lakh compensation to the family members of each the victims immediately and take up relief and rehabilitation work expeditiously, a statement issued by Raj Bhawan said.
The Governor also asked the state government to restore transport facilities, electricity and communication network in the affected areas at the earliest, it said.
The Principal Secretary Disaster Management said the District Magistrates of the 12 affected districts have been directed to provide 1 quintal food-grain, Rs 1800 for buying clothes, Rs 2000 for purchase of utensils besides Rs 2000 cash to citizens whose dwellings have perished in the high velocity storm. He said the DMs have been told to give priority to villages badly affected in the storm.
The affected districts are in north and northeastern parts of the state including Purnea, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, Madhepura, Supaul, Saharsa, Bhagalpur, Samastipur, Darbhanga and Madhubani.
Vyas Jee said the visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to the affected areas has been put off for Friday.
After telephonic talks between PM Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar, the Centre had promised all possible assistance to Bihar, amid demands in the Lok Sabha for a special package to deal with the losses due to the heavy storm and rain in three districts that left scores dead and a trail of devastation last night.
Responding to demands by members in the Lok Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government wants to assure the people and government of Bihar that all possible assistance will be extended.
He said the possibility of the toll crossing the 50 mark cannot be ruled out.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, members from the state, cutting across party lines, demanded special package of the state and said the storm should be declared a ‘national calamity’.
Over 80 people were injured in the storm and are undergoing treatment at various government hospitals, he said.