Cyclone Phailin: Nitish asks for evaluation of loss of lives, damage

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today directed detailed assessment of loss of lives and damage to houses and crops in heavy rainfall in the state in the aftermath of Cyclone Phailin. [caption id=“attachment_1178665” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Nitish Kumar. PTI image[/caption] Principal Secretary (Disaster Management) Vyasji said the chief minister directed that those whose houses and crops have been damaged should be given compensation and agriculture input subsidy respectively at the earliest. Kumar, who held a high-level meeting here to assess the loss of life and property, asked officials to ensure payment of ex-gratia compensation in case of loss of human life, Vyasji said. Water Resources Department Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh, Disaster Management Minister Renu Kumari Kushwaha, Chief Secretary A K Sinha, Development Commissioner Alok Kumar Sinha and other senior officials attended the meeting convened by Kumar at his official residence. A total 14 persons were killed during the heavy rains triggered by Cyclone Phailin in Bihar earlier this week. PTI