Floods create havoc in Varanasi; Modi deputes MP for help in his constituency
Varanasi: Flooding has created havoc in Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has deputed a party MP to provide help and relief to the victims.
Lakhs of people have taken shelter in relief camps which suffer from shortage of food and drinking water. Cattle are the worst affected and the district administration is making all efforts to arrange feed for them.
The ghats of the temple city have been submerged and the cremation at two places has slowed down. It has also made the performance of rituals for the dead costlier as unavailability of dry wood has shot up its prices.
The Prime Minister, who has expressed concern over the flood situation in his constituency, has deputed MP C R Patil to reach the victims and provide them the required relief.
Patil, who is camping in the town, has set a target of reaching at least 10,000 flood victims in a day and provide them with all the essential relief items besides ensuring food packets are delivered to them timely.
Modi's Parliamentary office in Ravindrapuri colony here is open round-the-clock and a helpline number has been issued for the flood-hit people, where nearly 200-300 complaints are being received everyday, said Patil.
"All efforts are being made to solve the complainants' problems and NDRF is being informed to reach the affected areas where people need their help," he said.
Patil said along with the district administration, the BJP members too are reaching the flood victims and ensuring all kind of help for them.
BJP has hired 21 additional boats for the flood-hit people who are facing difficulty due to non-availability of boats in their affected areas, the MP said.
He said food packets, blankets, candles, potato, onions, rice and other items are being distributed among the victims. Patil said most of weavers have been affected and efforts are being made to extend all sorts of help to them.
Members of the 'Rashtriya Bunkar Action Committee', an organisation of weavers, today came to the parliamentary office and have demanded relief items, he said, adding their leader was handed over 1,000 food packets. Blankets and other essential items are also being distributed among them.
Patil said BJP, with a team of doctors, will also be holding medical camps in the affected areas. "Though the district administration is making all efforts to shift people from their submerged villages to the relief camps, few villages are awaiting government help," he said.
