Patna: Bihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit on Wednesday reviewed the flood situation and ongoing relief and rescue operations across nine affected and vulnerable districts, directing officials to maintain round-the-clock vigilance and ensure timely assistance to affected families.
The review meeting was held through videoconferencing at the Disaster Management Department and was attended by the district magistrates of West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Supaul and Saharsa.
Disaster Management Department Principal Secretary Santosh Kumar Mall was also present at the meeting.
October 9 Set for GR Assistance Transfer
A key focus of the meeting was the distribution of Gratuitous Relief (GR) assistance to flood-affected families.
District officials were informed that the Chief Minister will transfer the GR assistance through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on October 9. Officials were directed to complete all preparations in advance and ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive the assistance according to the prescribed procedure.
Six Relief Camps Sheltering 3,550 People
The Chief Secretary reviewed arrangements at relief camps and directed officials to ensure regular availability of food, drinking water, sanitation, healthcare and other essential services.
At present, six relief camps are operational across the affected areas, providing accommodation, food and medical facilities to around 3,550 flood-affected people.
The administration has also been directed to expand community kitchen operations wherever required. So far, 100 community kitchens have provided meals to around 1.40 lakh people affected by the floods.
221 Boats Deployed for Evacuation and Relief
The meeting also reviewed boat operations in flood-affected areas. A total of 221 boats are currently being operated to facilitate evacuation and movement of people and support relief and rescue operations.
Officials were instructed to ensure adequate availability of boats in areas where they are required and to prevent disruptions to evacuation and relief efforts.
Over 2,400 Dry Ration Packets Distributed
The distribution of essential relief materials was also reviewed. More than 2,400 dry ration packets and around 10,400 polythene sheets have so far been distributed among flood-affected people.
The Chief Secretary directed officials to ensure that relief materials and cattle feed are distributed according to the requirements of affected families and livestock owners.
Officials Asked to Maintain Vigilance
Pratyaya Amrit directed district magistrates to continuously monitor the flood situation and coordinate with concerned departments to ensure effective relief and rescue operations.
He also emphasised continuous monitoring of embankments, particularly at vulnerable locations, and called for timely preventive action to deal with any emerging situation.
Officials were instructed to regularly review relief operations and take prompt action based on ground-level requirements. The administration was also directed to ensure that flood-affected residents face no difficulty in accessing essential services and assistance.
