NEW DELHI: The armed
forces are now focusing their efforts on evacuating an estimated three
lakh people marooned in the hinterlands of six Bihar districts and hope
to complete the operation in two or three days.
Senior officers from the three services told a press conference here on
Tuesday that they would then lay emphasis on medical aid, sanitation
and restoring road links.
“The special task for the Army is evacuation with the Bihar Chief
Minister having indicated that three lakh are marooned. We will focus
on the most isolated and inaccessible areas,” said Col. Raj Shukla
coordinating the relief operations here.
Giving an indication of the difficulties being faced, he said the
current in some places was so strong that boats required two to three
outboard motors to operate.
Army columns have hitchhiked and clambered on trains to reach some
areas while in some, they were being sustained by air sorties.
The Army has deployed 37 columns for flood relief operations in the
districts of Supaul, Madhepura, Araria, Purnia and Katihar. It has also
deployed an equal number of medical teams at major relief camps.
It has also pressed into service 450 average size boats, 64 small size
boats and six helicopters in the rescue and relief operations.
The IAF has deployed IL-76, AN-32, Avro Aircraft and some helicopters
in the rescue and relief operations. The IL-76 has so far evacuated
1,360 people and airlifted 290 tonnes of relief materials in 37 sorties.
The AN-32s have evacuated 532 people and airlifted 61 tonne relief
material in 102 sorties. IAF helicopters evacuated 176 marooned people
in 350 sorties. They also airlifted 325 tonnes of relief material.
The Navy has sent 145 specialised divers and 24 boats for rescue
operations.
Citizens’ plea
The Centre for Environment and Food Security and number of eminent
academicians, journalists and citizens have demanded that the entire
relief and rescue operations in flood-hit areas of Bihar must be handed
over to the Army under a single operational command at an appropriate
level.
In a letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, it said, that at
least one division of Army and one squadron of Air Force must be
immediately deployed in the worst-hit districts of Supaul, Saharsa,
Araria, Madhepura, Katihar and Purnia.
They pointed out that prevention of outbreak of epidemics was most
crucial and suggested involvement of international aid agencies like
WHO, UNICEF and Red Cross in the relief operations.
“Since a large number of people have lost everything and have nothing
to fall back upon, we need long term relief camps and allied
infrastructure,” they said.
The signatories included Kuldip Nayar, Prof. Rajni Kothari, Justice
Rajinder Sachhar, Prabhash Joshi, Harsh Mander, Prof. Arun Kumar, Prof.
Ashis Nandy and Aruna Roy.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/03/stories/2008090360451400.htm
Copyright © 2008, The Hindu.
