Relief materials not reaching 70 % flood affected people in Bhojpur

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara: Although the Bhojpur district administration claims relief operation in flood hit areas in the district is going on war footing was going on at full swing, over 70 % of the affected population is not getting relief materials. The condition of the old, children and womenfolk is getting worse with each passing day. Cattleheads are left on the mercy of god for want of fodder. The flood affected people are spending sleepless nights under open sky. Resentment prevails among the flood affected people against the district administration which appears satisfied after distributing some food packets that proved a drop in the ocean.

The flood affected people said that the flood has become picnic for the officials who visit the embankment and return without doing anything for them. The musclemen of the areas have captured all the relief materials which could not reach to the poor. The rich get polythene sheets but the poor are deprived of them. They also blamed that the musclemen of the areas have captured the boats and realized money from the needy. The matter will come to light if the lists of the beneficiaries are made public. The closure of flour mills for want of diesel have added to the woes of the people and now they have to go miles to get their wheat grinded.

Incharge Disaster Management Officer informed that at least three lakh of population in 365 villages of 76 panchayat under six blocks of Bhojpur district is reeling under flood in Ganga and Sone rivers. He said 1,100 houses were damaged and about three dozen persons have so far drowned in the flood water. He stated that gram, beaten rice (chuda), jaggery (gud), sattu, match boxes, kerosene oil and polythene sheets have been distributed among the flood affected people in sufficient quantity.