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Wednesday, Aug 01, 2007
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Floods: court pulls up Bihar Government

K. Balchand

Seeks report on relief measures undertaken; situation continues to be grim in Darbhanga

PATNA: The Patna High Court on Tuesday lashed out at the Bihar Government for its abject failure to deliver relief to the millions reeling under the impact of floods across the State and sought a report by Wednesday.

Taking cognisance of media reports regarding the plight of the people rendered homeless by the calamitous floods, a Division Bench of Justice Naran Rai and Justice K.K. Mandal expressed serious anxiety over the frivolous response of the State Government in initiating any relief work in the areas devastated by the floods.

The Bench directed the Government to file an affidavit about the food, shelter and medicine that had been provided to the hapless people who had been fending for themselves for well over a week now.

The Bench intends to issue directives upon receiving the report.

Meanwhile, the situation continued to be grim in Darbhanga where the Akashwani suspended its transmission operations in the wake of submergence of its premises under four feet of floodwater.

With its armoury flooded, the Bihar Military Police base has been forced to take out its arsenal and guard it under makeshift tents.

Agitation threat

The Opposition parties continued to cry foul against the Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, and warned of an agitation if he failed to cut short his visit to Mauritius and return home to attend to the distress of the people.

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