Lok Sabha expresses grief over deaths in Bihar in torrential rains

New Delhi: Lok Sabha on Thursday expressed grief over the death of more than 40 people in Bihar due to heavy storm and torrential rains on Tuesday night.

North and northeastern districts of Bihar were affected causing the deaths and damaging crops and property worth several crores of rupees.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said over 44 people were reportedly killed and several others injured due to torrential rains and hailstorm.

The House expresses its profound sorrow on this natural calamity which has brought pain and suffering to all the affected people and the bereaved families.

Besides, the House also condoled the passing way of former Odisha chief minister J B Patnaik. He was a Lok Sabha member as well as a Union Minister. As a mark of respect to the departed, the House then stood in silence.

"Two more deaths have been reported from Purnea district taking the toll to 44 in the tropical storm in parts of Bihar," Principal Secretary Disaster Management Vyas Jee told PTI.

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 this morning and held a meeting with officials at Bhagalpur, Chief Minister Office sources said.

Vyas Jee said the visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to the affected areas has been put off for tomorrow.

After telephonic talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the Centre had promised all assistance and the Union Home Minister was expected in the state today.

Over 80 persons were seriously injured in the storm and undergoing treatment at various government hospitals, he said.

Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi today expressed profound grief at the human casualties and damage to dwellings in Seemanchal and Koshi regions of the state.

He asked the state government to pay Rs 4 lakh compensation to the family members of 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.

On return from an aerial survey from a low height yesterday, the CM had said crops have also severely been damaged. In fact, the maize crop has been completely flattened.