Over 30 Drown during Relief Operation in Madhepura

Patna: Aug. 29, 2008

More than 30 people, including an army jawan, were feared drowned after an Army boat carrying dozens of flood victims in Madhepura district tipped over in the raging Kosi River throwing all of its occupants in the water only to be swept away by the current.

The accident took place near Murliganj block of the Madhepura district.

Six women and eight children were among the victims though the officials put the number of casualties at 20.

Divers were pressed into service but the raging current was just too much for the rescuers to save any life.

Meanwhile, relief and rescue workers continued to pull flood victims from their roofs – many stranded their for nearly a week now since the breach in Kosi dam twelve days ago.

Pratyay Arit, the Additional Commissioner of the Disaster Management said over 2.3 lakh people had been moved to safer areas with the help of 58 motorboats, 673 boats and four Air Force helicopters.

In a related development, Britain, through the UNICEF, pledged a flood relief aid of Rs. 1.2 crore for Bihar.

This comes a day after the United States announced its decision to send Rs. 40 lakh for the flood victims in the state.