Home Minister Rajnath Singh during aerial review of cyclone affected area in Patna. (Press Trust of India)
The Centre today assured full support to Bihar government in providing relief to the storm-hit areas of the state, saying it was behind those affected by the disaster.
"The Centre will provide all necessary help to the state government to help the affected people.
"We are fully behind the affected people in this hour of crisis," Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said after conducting an aerial survey of North Bihar districts affected by the nor'wester.
Accompanied by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Radha Mohan Singh and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Mr Singh assessed the damage caused by the storm in worst-hit Purnia, Madhepura and Katihar districts.
The Home Minister also held a meeting with top state government officials.
"I have told the Chief Minister that after making detailed assessment, the state government should send a memorandum on the basis of which the central government will provide all necessary funds," he said.
Mr Singh said that there has been extensive damage due to the natural disaster that led to death of people and livestocks, damage of crops and properties.
"We have already changed the norms for compensation.
"Now anyone with 33 per cent damage to the crops will get full compensation which will be one-and-half-time more than the previous amount," he said.
Asked whether the Centre will declare it a "national disaster", the Home Minister said "a disaster is disaster" and the Central government was taking it with utmost seriousness and will do everything possible to give relief to those affected by it.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he would send a detailed report to the central government seeking assistance for those affected by the nor'wester.
"This is a new kind of disaster which our people have never experienced in the past. They have seen floods and drought but not this. So, the damage is massive," he said.
Mr Kumar said he had an extensive discussion with the Home Minister on how to provide maximum relief to the needy people.
At least 55 people have lost their lives when the killer nor'wester hit 12 districts of Bihar on Tuesday night.
80 people were seriously injured in the storm.
As per the latest report compiled by the state Disaster Management department, Purnea bore the maximum brunt of the Nor'wester with a maximum of 38 deaths.
While seven persons lost their lives in Madhepura, three died in Madhubani, two each in Katihar, Sitamarhi and Darbhanga and one in Supual, the report said.