Bihar Minister demands probe into irregularities in identification of flood victims

Satish Aditya

Motihari : Bagmati embankment near Khoripakad  under Patahi block  in East Champaran district,  which had developed crack and seepage last week,  was suddenly sliced in a stretch of 50 feet and flood water started gushing towards adjoining villages on July 20, 2019, night, triggering panic among the locals.

But,Executive Engineer (EE), Drainage, Ranbir Prasad, and Superintending Engineer (SE) Ranjan Kumar along with labourers soon reached the spot and filling of sand bags started on war footing in the night to plug the gap in the embankment. The engineers said that the gap was plugged and the embankment was saved. They said that a big tunnel had appeared  in the embankment.

Art, Culture & Youth Affair Department Minister and Motihari MLA Pramod Kumar, after visiting the  marooned villages under Motihari block on boat with officials, said  the situation is grim and around 40,000  people of 9 panchayats under the block  were reeling under the flood fury for the last ten days but were not provided relief by the district administration.

Not a single flood affected person has received Rs 6,000 of GR under the block, the Minister said. He said that he has sent  an email  to the Secretary, Disaster Management  Department, and its minister informing them about irregularities being committed by the block level officials and employees in identifying flood victims and the areas. The Minister demanded inquiry into the matter.  He demanded immediate release of GR fund into the accounts of flood victims and expressed  surprise  that although 41 persons mostly children had died in flood related incidents in district but the government record shows only two persons had died in the flood.

It may be recalled that an angry mobs of flood affected people had attacked offices of SDO, BDO, and CO at Dhaka, Sugauli , Patahi respectively while  the CO of Chiraiya was beaten up and held hostage for hours at a shop near Rupahara on July 19, 2019. Police stations concerned have lodged FIRs against unknown persons in this connection. The DM has asked the people to maintain peace and added that the  GR amount is being deposited into their account.

Although  flood in rivers Bagmati, Lalbakeya, Burhi Gandak  and other hilly rivers was receding fast on July 21, 2019, the
situation in  15 panchayats under Banjariya, Patahi, and Tetariya blocks in East Champaran district continues to be grim. More than 1,000  families have taken shelter on embankments, roads, schools and other safer places for last ten days. DM Raman Kumar said that around 4.3 lakh people of 93 panchayats were affected by the flood under Banjariya and Patahi blocks.