Bihar steps up quake relief efforts as 2,500 people arrive
MODI SENDS FOUR MINISTERS TO COORDINATE WORK, AS DEATH TOLL IN STATE CLIMBS TO 58
More than 2,500 Indians have reached Raxaul on the IndoNepal border from earthquake-hit Nepal since Monday night even as the toll due to the high intensity earthquake in Bihar climbed up to 58, with 180 others injured.
The stranded Indians were given food packets on their arrival and sent to their respective destinations by trains and buses, a senior official said.
Meanwhile, Principal Secretary Disaster Management Department Vyas Jee said one more person died in West Champaran taking the toll to 58 while about 180 are injured.
Vijay Sinha, Commandant of 9th battalion of NDRF based at Bihta in Patna district, said three battalions each comprising about 45 personnel left for Kathmandu by road late last night to join relief and rescue operation in the Himalayan country.
Three more NDRF teams are ready at Bihta to move after receiving instructions, he said.
A report from Sitamarhi said a team of doctors has been deployed at all the entry points on the Indo-Nepal border in the district at Bargania, Bushita, Sonebarsa and Bhihta to attend to the people arriving from Nepal.
A report from Darbhanga said minister-in-charge of the district Baidyanath Sahni and Special District Magistrate Anand Kishore were closely monitoring relief operations in the district.
“Ready-made food packets were provided in relief camps to more than 2,500 people who arrived at Raxual from Nepal since last night,” In-charge District Magistrate of East Champaran district Bharat Dubey, who is camping at Raxual, told PTI on Tuesday. Ten buses were sent to Pokhra by the state government but since not many people were stranded there, only one busload was returning, Vyas Jee said.
As announced by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a total of 30 buses left for Kathmandu yesterday to bring back stranded citizens, Vyas Jee said.
The chief minister was scheduled to visit Raxual this afternoon to take stock of relief work as there was a high inflow of people from Nepal to India through Raxual, his office said. Vyas Jee confirmed a report of eight people arriving from Nepal side to Bargania border in Sitamarhi district who were also provided immediate relief and sent to their destinations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has deputed four union ministers to Bihar to coordinate relief efforts in the state where 58 people died due to the earthquake.