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Friday, September 5, 2008

India's Shame

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The cataclysmic flooding in Bihar, the worst in India's modern history, isn't the national calamity.

It is what is unfolding now. Eighteen days after India's most notorious and unpredictable Kosi River suddenly breached an embankment and changed its course uprooting millions of people, thousands remain trapped in homes, crushed in poorly resourced relief camps or just sleeping hungry on the road. It is a stunning indictment on how India's central government, the Bihar administration, and local and international NGOs reacted to the tragedy that has touched the lives of at least 25 million people.

Across the misery-seeped expanse, there are no facilities set up to help trace missing peoples. No trauma care facilities. There are no international NGOs, who have in the past complained that India did not give them access in such situations.

"The prime minister came here and called it a national tragedy If this is how our nation reacts to this tragedy, this is just a cruel joke on us, isn't it?" said Giraj Rishi Yaday, as he sat in a relief camp after walking the whole morning in waist-deep water.

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Friday, August 29, 2008

Waves of calamity

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday described the floods in Bihar as a "national calamity" and announced an immediate financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for rescue and relief operations.

The Prime Minister did an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, some Union ministers and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

"If there is a need for more, we will give more," he told reporters. "We would like to assure the people of Bihar that all of India will support them through this difficulty".

"I thank him for the help provided by the Centre," Nitish Kumar said, appealing for 'generous help' from all quarters.

River Kosi breached its banks 10 days back on the border with Nepal, flowing through a channel it had previously abandoned.

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To read the ePaper, visit: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com

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