Home Minister Rajnath Singh praised the Bihar Government for the relief work and the ex-gratia granted to the kin of those killed in the cyclonic storm that hit the State on Tuesday night.
The storm that lashed many Bihar districts in the north on Tuesday night left 55 dead and over three lakh people homeless. Home Minister accompanied by Nitish, Union Ministers Radha Mohan Singh and Ravi Shankar Prasad
and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday made an aerial survey of the affected regions mainly the worst-hit Purnia district.
After the survey, Singh in Purnia said that the Centre will provide all assistance to the State Government in this critical period. "The Chief Minister has stated that after thorough assessment of the losses, he would send a memorandum to the Centre," said Singh and added that he was happy that the CM quickly extended ex-gratia of Rs4 lakh to the kin of those killed.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar lauded the quick response from the Centre which also assured all help to meet the catastrophe and said that he was thankful. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also phoned to express grief over the natural calamity and assured all help.
The Government stated that as per the latest estimate, 1.50 lakh people in Purnia and 60,000 in Madhepura districts have been rendered homeless. Another 90,000 people have been affected in Saharsa, Katihar, Supaul, Darbhanga and Madhubani districts. Thousands of mud and straw houses with asbestos roofs in dozens of villages under Dagarua block in Purnia have been fully blown away and are now eliminated.
The State Government has also announced gratuitous relief of Rs5,800 in cash for purchasing utensils and clothes and one quintal of food grain including 50 kg each of rice and wheat to each victim family. The Government has directed the Disaster Management Department for an expeditious assessment of damages to houses and crops. After evaluation, people whose houses were damaged completely would be eligible for a compensation of Rs95,100 for each pucca house and Rs51,900 for each kutcha house. Compensation will also be given for the partially damaged houses as per the rule.
After return from Purnia, Nitish held a special Cabinet meeting in the evening and later left for Delhi where he is likely to meet the PM and other Union Ministers.