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Wednesday, Aug 08, 2007
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Sonia promises help for flood-hit

Sushanta Talukdar

People in Assam, Bihar complain of poor relief distribution measures

— Photo: PTI

Lending an ear: Congress president Sonia Gandhi listens to the grievances of the flood-affected people at Samastipur in Bihar on Tuesday. Among others in the photograph (from left) are: Minister for Steel, Chemicals and Fertilizers Ram Vilas Paswan, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad (partly seen), and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Guwahati: United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Tuesday made an aerial inspection of the flood-affected areas in Assam and listened to the woes of the people in the worst-hit Dhemaji district. Ms. Gandhi assured the State Government all possible help from the Centre.

Ms. Gandhi and Mr. Patil, accompanied by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, flew to Dhemaji in an IAF chopper immediately after their arrival at the Lilabari airport in Lakhimpur. They landed at the Dhemaji Circuit House where about 500 flood-affected people were waiting since morning to tell Ms. Gandhi their tales of displacement and loss of property and cropped land. They also briefed Ms. Gandhi about relief distribution.

From Dhemaji, Ms. Gandhi and Mr. Patil surveyed the flood- hit areas of lower and central Assam and arrived at the airport here. They later left for Bihar.

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhubaneswar Kalita urged Ms. Gandhi to impress upon the Centre to provide more assistance to deal with the situation.

Anger in Bihar

K. Balchand reports from Patna:

At Samastipur in Bihar, angry flood-affected people told Ms. Gandhi that they were not getting adequate relief from the State Government for well over a fortnight.

Ms. Gandhi surveyed the devastation caused by the floods. The calamity rendered 11 million people homeless.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Mr. Patil, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Union Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan accompanied her during the aerial survey.

Ms. Gandhi later arrived in Patna and held talks with State Government officials.

On the way back to the airport, Mr. Patil told reporters about the aerial survey and their assessment of the plight of the people. “We heard the distressed people and the Government as well. A lot needs to be done.”

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had a talk with the Chief Minister. He expressed concern at the grim flood situation and assured Mr. Kumar all assistance.

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