Centre intensifies Bihar flood relief

As the government intensified its relief efforts in flood-affected Bihar, the armed forces rushed 80 more divers and 50 boats to join the rescue mission.

As the government intensified its relief efforts in flood-affected Bihar on Thursday, the armed forces rushed 80 more divers and 50 boats to join the rescue mission.

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While the navy sent 80 more divers from its three Command headquarters in Mumbai, Vishakapatnam and Kochi along with 25 rescue boats, the army chipped in with another 25 boats. The men and their equipment were flown to Bihar by the Indian Air Force (IAF), government sources said.

Already, 37 army columns of about 5,000 men, 13 helicopters of the IAF and army, 599 boats from the navy and army, 783 National Disaster Relief Force personnel, 7,695 tents, 10 satellite phones, four lakh drinking water bottles, and 10 water purifying plants have been deployed and provided by the government for assisting the Bihar administration in the relief operations.

Meanwhile, Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries department sent 66 wagons-loads of dry fodder on rail from Amritsar and Karnal to Saharsa, which reached the state today. Additional 41 wagon-load of fodder is being sent by Haryana to Purnea.

"The requirement of procurement of vaccines is being met through centrally-sponsored Scheme for Assistance to states for Control of Animal Diseases. The state has been asked to indicate the specific requirements of medicines and vaccines they need, apart from setting up 71 veterinary centres to treat sick livestock," sources said.