Bihar flood toll reaches 156; rescue team helps woman deliver twins on boat

Patna: With three more deaths reported on Sunday the toll in Bihar rose to 156 as there was no let up in the flood situation in the state while in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh the Ganga continues to flow above the danger level.

In Bihar, the three deaths were reported from Samastipur while a twin was born on an NDRF rescue boat in Patna. The Ganga is flowing above the red marks in four districts.

An NDRF release said they got a request from the family members of Rekha Devi (25) for help. Within 50 minutes, an NDRF team reached Bihar's Chandrapura village to shift the pregnant woman to primary health centre but she gave birth to twins on board.

Later, the newborns and the mother were admitted to Mohanpur primary health centre, it said, adding this is the third time when babies were delivered on an NDRF boat while being taken to the hospital.

In order to speed up relief and rescue operations in view of floods in the state, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today inspected the relief camps in Bhagalpur. The CM held a meeting to review the flood situation with top officials and gave necessary directions in this regard, an official release said.

Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, Disaster Management Department Principal Secretary Vyasji and District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, DIG and IG were also present during the meeting, it said.

Kumar later reached Purnea where he also held a meeting with top officials regarding the flood relief operations being carried out in Purnea, Araria and Kishanganj.

The CM will visit Katihar tomorrow where he is to inspect relief camps and review the relief and rescue operations in the district, the release added.

5.56 lakh people have been rescued so far from the 12 flood-affected districts. The government is plying 2,821 boats for evacuation.