"Nearly 1.25 lakh cusec of water is flowing in the new course that Kosi has taken and if it goes up to 4 lakh to 5 lakh cusec it will become difficult to save the lives," Kumar said.
PATNA: Warning of greater trouble for the flood victims of Supaul, Madhepura and Araria districts due to the change in the course of the Kosi river, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday appealed to them to evacuate to safer places without wasting time.
"Nearly 1.25 lakh cusec of water is flowing in the new course that Kosi has taken and if it goes up to 4 lakh to 5 lakh cusec by the first fortnight of October it will become difficult to save the lives of the people," Kumar said.
"A catastrophe does not fix its date of striking, it has sent warning signals and we cannot ignore these," the CM said in his address to the people of the flood-ravaged region broadcast by All India Radio this evening.
Stating that over 11 lakh people in the three districts were in the grip of the deluge caused by Kosi picking up a channel that it had abandoned over two centuries ago following a breach in its embankment at Kusaha in Nepal on August 18, he said, "Those who think they are surrounded by floods should know that they are surrounded by problems of huge magnitude."
The flood water may recede some time later but the water in the new channel that has become the main course could be reduced only when the river was forced back into its old curse within the embankments, a task that would not be accomplished before March-April next year.
Kumar said he had resolved to evacuate all the affected people to the relief camps already functional or being set up
by the government.
Apart from the three IAF helicopters, 235 personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 1150 of Bihar police and 379 of special auxiliary police consisting of ex-servicemen are evacuating people and reaching them relief, he said.
Kumar said one Army column has been rushed to the flood-hit areas and two more were in the process of being pressed into service.
"I assure you that you are not alone in this hour of crisis, the entire state is with you. Keep your patience and counsel ... you have no time to waste. Listen to my appeal and shift to relief camps and other safer places. The world is if life is," the chief minister said in his address.
Asking political parties to desist from politicising the issue, he made an impassioned plea to them not to do politics but dedicate themselves to the 'service of humanity'.
"Keeping ten lakh people in relief camps for eight-nine months would be a challenge,'' Kumar said and appealed to NGOs, organisations and individuals to generously contribute to the government's efforts for providing succour to the people.
Kumar said he has sought financial assistance from the Centre and would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday to apprise him of the situation and seek aid to tackle the crisis.
"If the Centre is forthcoming with assistance it is all right. If not, we will prove equal to the task of providing relief to the victims with the help of the people,'' he said adding he had convened an all-party meeting on August 29 to discuss the situation.
He also cautioned anti-social elements against 'playing with the lives and properties' of the flood victims or face serious consequences.
''Once we are over with this crisis, we will collectively work towards rebuilding Bihar,'' Kumar said.
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