Clamour for relief reaches crescendo in camps

SAHARSA/PURNIA: The clamour for relief has been reaching a crescendo in the relief camps spread over the districts of Saharsa, Supaul and Madhepura which are still facing flood threat, though the threat of deluge has disappeared with Nepal authorities putting on hold their plan to blast the landslide debris in Bhote Kosi river at Jure in the Himalayan nation.
"The authorities distributed 'chura (flattened rice)' at 29 relief camps in Saharsa district on Tuesday only," said a distraught villager Shashidhar Singh of Dhara, who vociferously condemned inadequate relief though he came to the camp with his seven-member family on Sunday.This was the refrain at many such relief camps across Saharsa and Supaul, where 29 and 21 camps, respectively, are presently functional.
The entire stretch of the eastern embankment has virtually turned into habitats for those who have been evacuated in midst of reports about imminent catastrophe which could be wrought by the Kosi following a massive landslide in Bhote Kosi river in Nepal, 260 km from Birpur on Friday night. "We have been left to fend for ourselves," grins Manikant Thakur at Saraigarh. Saharsa district authorities have opened additional five relief camps between the embankments in Mahishi block.
Meanwhile, anti-erosion work, which was progressing at a snail's pace, has been stepped up and small breaches are being plugged at three points at Sarauni (Mahishi block), Jori and Mohammadpur in Nawhatta block in Saharsa district on Tuesday which, in the event of massive surge of flood water , could pose a severe danger to the flood-prone Saharsa district, official sources claimed.
Saharsa district magistrate (DM) Shashi Bhushan Kumar, describing the overall situation as normal said on Tuesday , "The authorities are still working overtime and are watchful".
Kosi Barrage superintending engineer (SE ) Vishnu Kant Pathak says the discharge level of water-1,52,860 cusecs at Birpur ( Bihar ) and 1,15,000 cusecs at Barahkhestra (Nepal)-are signs that the imminent threat of catastrophe which kept them on edges has, for the present, evaporated.