Patna, Sep 16 (PTI) Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited flood-affected areas of Vaishali district on Wednesday during his day-long tour of Bihar to review relief and rescue operations in areas hit by the deluge, officials said.Accompanied by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, the Union agriculture minister inspected the flood-affected Terasia and Saraipur villages in Vaishali district by boat and tractor. He also interacted with the flood-affected people there. Officials said he will assess crop damage and meet local farmers to hear their concerns.According to a statement by the Disaster Management Department on Wednesday, around 49.74 lakh people in 15 districts of Bihar have been affected by floods as heavy rainfall in Nepal and in the state swelled rivers already flowing above their danger marks.The affected districts are Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Purnea, Madhepura and Araria.

After visiting Terasia and Saraipur villages, Chouhan told reporters, "This is the worst flood so far. I have been informed that the water level this time is nearly one foot higher than what it was during the 2016 floods. I also witnessed the losses suffered by farmers." Asserting the state government was extending all possible help to the flood-hit people, he said, "I have come here on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take stock of the situation on the ground and assess the extent of the damage. Following the visit, I will hold a review meeting with officials of the departments concerned." "Another Central team will also visit Bihar to assess the damage caused by the floods. The Central Government will extend all possible assistance to the state government in dealing with the situation." Later in the day, Chouhan will chair a review meeting with the Bihar chief minister and senior officials to assess flood relief operations and assistance for affected farmers.After that, the Union minister will visit the flood relief camp at Nawabgarhi in Munger and interact with people sheltered there. Later, he will visit Bhagalpur to inspect the Kojikaraiya embankment and then visit the relief camp set up at Bhagalpur Polytechnic College.

Reacting to Chouhan's visit, RJD MP Manoj Jha criticised the Centre for its "delayed response" to the flood."You took far too long to show up. Bihar's plight is not on their minds. Now they are arriving today. I hear they are coming by a chartered plane. It would have been far better had the money been spent for flood victims," he said.A couple of days ago, Bihar's Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav accused the Centre of adopting a "stepmotherly" attitude towards the state in providing flood relief as he slammed Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Union ministers for failing to secure aid for people hit by the deluge."The engines of the double-engine government in Bihar have failed. I am not aware of how often the chief minister talks to PM Modi, and wonder why he has not been able to secure central assistance. There are many Union ministers from Bihar, but none has the influence to bring central help to the state," he had said.Agencies