Bihar rain: Toll rises to 42, rescue operations intensified, say officials Haasan flays TN govt for seeking HC nod for banners
National and State Disaster Response Force workers rescue an elderly woman from flood-affected Rajendra Nagar area following heavy rains, in Patna, Wednesday PATNA: At least 42 people have died in rain-related incidents in Bihar following a torrential spell that took place between September 27 and 30, authorities said.
The state continued to trudge towards normalcy on Wednesday with intensified rescue and relief operations and water being pumped out of submerged localities.
With a let up in the showers since Monday, restoration work was on in full swing.
Supervising rescue and rehabilitation work in Patna on late Tuesday night, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar urged people to "have patience".
According to a release issued by the state disaster management department, 42 casualties have been reported so far from the districts affected by the heavy rainfall, though a district-wise break-up was not yet available. The release put the total number of people affected by the devastating spell at 17.09 lakh. The districts hit by the disaster were Patna, Bhojpur, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, Samastipur, Begusarai, Lakhisarai and Vaishali situated on either side of the Ganga besides Arwal, Nawada and Nalanda in the Magadh region and Darbhanga and Katihar in Mithila.
The state capital, which has been among the worst- affected, was pounded by 342.5 mm of rainfall during the period as against the state average of 255 mm, the release said.
With restoration work being undertaken on a warfooting, all the sump houses were working at "full capacity" while three heavy-duty pumps have been brought in from Bilaspur to speedily flush out water from inundated areas of the city. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar waded through water-logged streets, with his pyjamas folded up to knees, supervising rescue and rehabilitation work.
"All possible efforts are being made. People are urged to have patience .... ” CHENNAI: MNM founder Kamal Haasan on Wednesday faulted the Tamil Nadu government for seeking the court's approval to erect banners to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping for their informal meet here this month.
The actor-politician appealed to Modi to "act as a pioneer" and put an end to the "banner culture."
In a tweet, he said the Tamil people were "struggling" to cope with the death of 23-yearold Subasri who was killed when an illegal hoarding put up by an AIADMK functionary fell on her, with the techie riding a two-wheeler losing balance.
A water tanker com- ing from behind had run over her.
"Honourable @Pmoindia While Tamil Nadu and Thamizhians (Tamils) are struggling to cope with the loss of Shubasri's death, the Tamil Nadu government has approached the courts to obtain permission to erect your banners," he said. "If you act as a pioneer in taking the first step to put an end to this haphazard banner culture, it will reflect your concern towards the sentiments of Tamils, and that in itself will garner you the greatest publicity possible. Jai Hind!," the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder said.
The Tamil Nadu government had on Tuesday sought the Madras High Court's permission to erect banners welcoming Modi and Xi Jinping, who are slated to meet at Mamallapuram, about 50 km from here, for their second informal meet from October 11-13. The petition filed by commissioner of municipal administration on behalf of the government would be taken up for hearing on Thursday.
Referring to authorities not giving permission for putting up banners throughout the state, the petitioner had said Modi and Jinping would be holding bilateral talks in the tourist town.