Patna: CM Samrat Choudhary on Saturday asked ministers in charge and secretaries assigned to flood-affected districts to camp continuously in their respective districts, closely monitor the situation and issue timely instructions to field officials.Reviewing flood preparedness and relief operations in Begusarai, Munger and Khagaria at Begusarai, Choudhary ordered round-the-clock community kitchens in affected localities and adequate arrangements for mobile medical teams, boats and motorboats. He also inspected the Raghopur embankment in Naugachhia, Bhagalpur.The CM asked officials to ensure all possible assistance and relief under the standard operating procedure, maintain strong security arrangements in inundated areas and keep the disaster compensation disbursement portal updated. He asked officials to continuously revise lists of flood-affected families so eligible households receive assistance on time.Choudhary ordered uninterrupted surveillance of embankments, safety embankments, zamindari bunds and sluice gates. Wherever erosion or damage is detected, protective and repair work should begin immediately to prevent further hardship. He also directed officials to keep contingency stocks of boats, life jackets, motorboats, relief and rescue teams, polythene sheets, anti-erosion material and other essential resources ready for emergencies.He ordered mobile medical teams to be deployed in affected areas, boat ambulances to be arranged for diara areas and medical camps to be opened wherever required. Large boats being used for bridge construction should, in coordination with the disaster management department, be requisitioned when needed to shift people to safer locations and deliver relief material.The CM also directed officials to ensure flood-hit farmers receive crop insurance benefits and no eligible farmer is left out. He called for a contingency crop plan for affected agricultural areas, adequate availability of alternative crops and seeds and necessary support for farmers whose fields have been damaged by flooding.Before the review meeting, Choudhary visited Kailashpur under Begusarai Sadar block to assess the flood situation and ongoing relief and rescue operations. He gave necessary directions to officials before proceeding to the district-level review.During the meeting, Choudhary stressed the need for administrative teams to remain on alert across the affected belt, coordinate between departments and respond quickly to requests from villages cut off by floodwaters. District officials were told to treat rescue, food, healthcare and compensation as immediate priorities.
