Karnataka offers cash and milk food to flood-hit Bihar

Karnataka will soon be sending a cheque for Rs 100 million besides 10 tonnes of milk powder to the displaced people of flood-hit Bihar.

Karnataka’s Home Minister V S Acharya told reporters that Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and Chief Secretary had sought financial assistance from Karnataka and in response the Government had decided to send the aid in the form of cash and milk food.

“To help them handle this disaster, we will be sending them the money and the milk food immediately. The Deputy Chief Minister has told us that they do not need medicine and food, but are in dire need of tents and blankets apart from manpower”, Acharya said.

The Government has also decided to urge the National Disaster Management Authority’s team to help the State Government in the distribution of milk powder to the needy.

The Karnataka Government’s offer of aid to Bihar comes at a time when the state itself is reeling under the impact of floods in many parts of the State.

Karnataka’s Revenue Minister K Karunakar Reddy told reporters that crops on an estimated 100,000 acres of land had been destroyed in the rains and the accompanying floods. A total of 24 people had died so far in the rains that lashed various parts of Karnataka. Besides, 314 heads of cattle had perished and more than 8,000 houses had collapsed in the rain.
He said Karnataka was preparing a memorandum to seek a compensation of Rs 6 billion from the Federal Government to take up relief measures in the flood-hit areas of the state.