Patna, 17 August: The flood situation in Bihar worsened on Thursday as the death toll mounted to 98 due to the deluge which has affected nearly 93 lakh people in 15 districts, forced postponment of examination and cancellation of trains. The toll due to the floods triggered by rains in Nepal and northern parts of the state was 72 on Wednesday, and 73.44 lakh people in 14 districts were hit. Saharsa was the latest district to be affected, officials said. The health department has launched a toll free number 104, officials said, adding hospitals have been direstced to maintain a sufficient stock of anti-snake and anti-rabies injections. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar accompanied by his Deputy Sushil Kumar Modi and Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh conducted an aerial survey of the marooned areas in Gopalganj, East Champaran, Sheohar and Sitamarhi districts among other areas.
Principal Secretary (Health) R K Mahajan said ‘boat ambulances’ are also being operated by the administration. In case of shortage of doctors in primary health centres, administration would hire private doctors on payment, Mahajan added. Principal secretary, Road Construction, Amrit Lal Meena said 124 roads, including national highways, have been damaged in floods.
