M A I N   N E W S

Central team to visit flood-hit areas
Tribune News Service

Villagers throw their fishing nets into a flooded area of Kamalpur to catch fish. — Reuters photo

New Delhi, July 12
Army has been pressed into service to evacuate people in the flood-affected regions of Bihar and Assam and to undertake relief measures on war footing. A Central team will visit the states to assess the damage and required relief package, Union Minister for Water Resources Priyaranjan Dasmunsi informed the Lok Sabha here today.

The flood situation in both the states have further deteriorated after national highways and railway lines have been cut from the parts of the country from incessent rains in the region. Millions of people have been stalled after flooding of over 17 districts in Bihar and almost entire region of Assam. The life has been thrown out of gear.

Mr Dasmunsi said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in close contact with Chief Ministers Rabri Devi and Tarun Gogoi.

“We have received requests from the Chief Secretaries of both the states. Relief materials are being sent, including Army boats,” he said.

Landslides block J&K highway

Jammu, July 12
Vehicular traffic on the 300-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway was disrupted today due to triggering of landslides following heavy rains overnight, official sources said here.

They said that landslides, triggered between Ramban and Battery Chesma early today following heavy rains in the area, forced the traffic authorities to suspend vehicular traffic on the highway.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which maintains major highways in the state, has pressed its men and machines to clear the landslides and make the arterial road traffic worthy.

Some vehicles, which had moved from both summer and winter capitals of the state for onward destinations, were held up at different points. — PTI