Patna, Sep 18 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin on Friday expressed concern over the severe flood situation in Bihar, highlighting relief measures being undertaken by the state government, assistance from the Centre and his personal contribution towards relief efforts.Nabin said the government was assisting flood-affected families through financial aid, relief camps and crop-damage assessment. He added that the entire government machinery was working to ensure timely relief and necessary assistance reached those affected.As part of his contribution, Nabin donated Rs 6.35 lakh, equivalent to three months of his salary as a Rajya Sabha MP, to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.He said the state government had already provided more than Rs 550 crore in financial assistance to flood-affected families, at the rate of Rs 7,000 per family.According to Nabin, arrangements have been made in affected areas for relief camps, community kitchens, medical facilities and fodder for livestock. He said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) had been deployed and were prepared for rescue operations. Crop damage assessment is also underway to determine assistance required by affected farmers.

Nabin said the flood situation was being continuously monitored and that the government was working to ensure relief reached affected people without delay.Referring to the Centre’s assistance, he noted that Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had visited flood-affected areas, met victims and reviewed relief and rescue operations.He assured flood-affected families of his commitment to supporting them during the crisis and said all possible assistance would continue to be provided.Severe floods have affected around 50 lakh people in 88 blocks across 15 districts in Bihar this year. Nabin added that the state government had remained engaged in relief and rescue operations and had provided food to around 1.62 crore people through more than 1,000 community kitchens.

/  IANS