Purnia (PTI): Terming the floods in Bihar as a "national calamity", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursdayannounced an immediate release of Rs 1,000 croress and 1.25 lakh tonnes of foodgrains to the state reeling under an unprecedented deluge caused by River Kosi. Singh, who undertook an aerial survey of the four worst affected districts along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, announced a relief of Rs one lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each of victims.

At least 55 people have so far lost their lives while over 25 lakh people in 15 districts have been hit by the impact of one of the worst floods in recent memory with the worst hit being Araria, Supaul, Madhepura and Saharsa. Singh said the Centre would provide all necessary material and technical assistance to Bihar to prevent further deterioration in the embankments and protective structures. A high-level team would be set up to co-ordinate matters with Nepal government.

With an "unprecedented" scale of relief measure required over an extended period, the Centre will procure and supply Tarpaulin tents and GI sheets as per the state government's request.

Special IAF sorties will be arranged for providing packaged drinking water. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will together provide 100 additional motorised boars for rescue operations while IAF choppers would be deployed for evacuation. Singh was accompanied by Union Ministers Shivraj Patil, Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan as well as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Leader of the Opposition Rabri Devi.

Singh, however, could not survey the entire 100 km-stretch of the flood-hit districts because of bad weather, the chief minister said.

Kumar expressed satisfaction over the relief package but said more aid will be needed in coming months.

"The package announced by the prime minister is satisfactory at the moment to tackle the gigantic task of reaching relief to over 20 lakh people affected by the floods in the four district with the Kosi changing course inundating vast areas," the chief minister said.

Stating that the package was in conformity with the demands he had placed before the prime minister during his visit to New Delhi yesterday, Kumar said the state would soon require around Rs 900 croress to Rs 950 crores for reconstruction of the embankments breached by rivers in Bihar.

"Apart from the estimated due of Rs 2500 crores the state spent on providing relief to the flood-hit areas in Bihar during last year's rainy season, we will require more assistance (from the Centre) for reconstructing villages, run camps for relief for the next three to four months, construct sanitary toilets and solve housing problems," Kumar said.

"We have to be ready for sheltering more than 10 lakh people in mega relief camps as polythenesheets can't serve the purpose," he said.

A tough fight for survival

Supaul (PTI): They clung to the snapped electric wire as if it were their only hope.

For four seemingly endless hours the wire was the only remaining link with life for a man and his sons who waged a grim battle for survival amidst the violent waters of the Kosi which has wrought havoc in seven districts of north eastern Bihar.

Radhakant Jha and his sons Ashish and Dinesh had set sail in quest of a safe shelter from Birpur in one of the worst-hit districts after their family had fled the catastrophe, but were caught in the vortex of the furious Kosi.

They shouted and cried to be rescued whenever they saw boats, chock-a-block with people, struggling through choppy waters to relief camps.

Their hope faded as did their voice, drowned in the gurgle of the rapids until one of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) finally heard their cries for help.

"Thank you....thank the God above that we are safe. It is as if we are reborn," said Dinesh before overwhelming emotions choked his voice and tears welled his fatigued eyes.

The three may have lived on to tell their story, but the link to life in the worst hit districts of Supaul, Madhepura, Araria and Saharsa remains tenuous with nearly two million people in the grip of the swollen Kosi that has unleashed havoc in the region.

"Our hope for survival is receding fast. I don't know if I will be able to speak to you again," Babloo Singh told PTI before the cellphone line got disconnected in the middle of a conversation.

Babloo and his family are perched atop the roof of their double-storeyed house at Chhatapur in Supaul district for the past one week.

He had been charging his cellphone by starting his motorcycle and linking his mobile to its battery. His bike has now now run out of fuel as he has run out of patience.

"We shout from the rooftop at the sight of every boat that passes from a distance but nobody listens. There is no relief, only the sight of airforce helicopters flying about. We are doomed," he said.

Vikas Kumar Jha, a teacher posted at Hridaynagar in Birpur sub-division, who was lucky to have made it to the relief camp at Simraha with his family is an angry man.

"I had to pay Rs 4000 to a local boatman for ferrying myself and family hardly a couple of kilometres. The local strongmen, who own boats are fleecing the already miserable flood victims," a livid Jha said.

R S Sharma, a lawyer, has 150 of his neighbours residing at his place. "We are fast running out of supplies and have received no relief from the government....in a couple of days we may begin to starve," he said looking skywards, hoping some IAF chopper will drop the much needed ration.

The temple at Chhatapur, serving as a relief shelter, is packed with about 2000 people and turns into a battle ground everytime relief packets are airdropped.

"There is a mad rush as relief distribution is not properly organised. The young and the strong grab more than what they can eat leaving the old, sick, women and children to starve," says Madhusudan, who has made the temple home ever since the floods drove him out of his home more than a week ago.