कोशी का शोक

This is India's Katrina, the challenges could be bigger. Like the Mississippi breached the levee to drown an unsuspecting New Orleans in the US, the mighty Kosi river in north Bihar has broken its embankment to pick up a channel it had abandoned over 200 years ago, drowning towns, numerous villages and rendering over two and half million homeless in five east Bihar districts. Many lost their lives . Kosi river, also known as the “sorrow of the Bihar”, has suddenly reverted to nearly its “original course” of the 18th century.
Causing a three-km-long breach in the Kosi's Bhimnagar barrage on August 18 afternoon near Kushaha village in Nepal, which adjoins Bihar's Supaul district, the river turned drastically eastward, causing an unexpected havoc in Madhepura, Saharsa, Araria, and Purnea districts. Apart from this , many other districts were also affected by floods. After undertaking an aerial survey, Prime Minister announced the floods in Bihar as a "National Calamity". PM announced immediate assistance of Rs 1,000 crore to the state for rescue and relief operations.
This was the critical situation for all of us. After the discussion with Prasenjit jee, we planned out five team for five flood affected districts. For Purnea- Manoj, Ravi , Praveen, Prabodh & Lalit were deputed for coverage .In Madhepura. for Saharsa- Neelkamal & Sashank- Ravi Ranjan & Gyanendu were deputed and in Supaul and in Araria, Shalini & Rahul were deputed to plan out the entire work. This team had done various types of stories. In this devastation, firstly our team had covered recuse operations conducted by army and local people. Our reporters also went in flood affected areas and our cameramen took many exclusive visual for the entire network. Apart from this, our team also accompanied IAF chopper for covering the news. These team also covered that flood affected people standed on roads, embankments and other elevated places between the two streams of the river. We also shown that many person were saving their pet or domestic animals in this deluge. This is the unique example of love between men and animals.

After breaking of embankment, our reporter Ravi Ranjan reached the Kushaha embankment. when the repairing work started on the embankment, we also covered it and this was the exclusive visual for the entire network. Apart from this, we had also shown Koshi flood water falling in river Ganga, it was covered by our Navgachhia N.C. Digvijay.

Our whole team tried to focus on relief work. Many stories were telecasted, showing the condition in the “Relief Camp”. In this work many local people and NGOs were providing shelter and food for flood woeful person. In Saharsa, one Madarsa also provided not only shelter but also “Puja Ka Saman” on the occasion of “TEEZ”. This was the unique example of humanity. In this calamity, many women living in red light area started relief camp specially for pregnant women.

ETV Bihar also covered those children who were starving or those who were orphans. Our Desk specially dealt with these types of stories. After the telecasting of these stories many social organization came forward to help the sufferers..
In this crisis, our desk also played a vital roll to show the all aspect of this devastation. When the flood related information came on desk, immediately output incharge constituted a flood team. That team was conducted by Pratik, Pratyush & Ajeet. Apart from these three members our desk staff also supported a lot in editing and scriptwriting. ETV Bihar has telecasted many live bulletins, and during this bulletin, we also flash our phone number for relief or rescue who were fingered in flood hit areas. Apart from this, other viewers also shared their views about the rescue operation conducted by government machinery. During the live, hundred of phone call received round the country. One phone call came from Madhepura at Murliganj where five hundred people were entrapped in flood. we immediately contacted the DM and other higher authorities. After the continious efforts,the entrapped were rescued by civil administration.We also save 25 school children in Madhepura who were staying in a house. Apart from this, so many boat accident news were flashed. Apart from this,our desk had prepared many voshots and animated graphic based on flood visual and information which were appreciated not only by viewers but also our Political Editor Mr. N.K.Singh. This was the achievement of our entire team. When flood water has reduced in many areas, diarrhoea spreed and we also focused on this epidemic. Our team has also covered that what was the condition in mega camps.
To sum up our reporters and desk had done a great job. In this deluge, ETV Bihar has not telecast any panic news among public. Our motto is giving correct information to our viewers, because they faith on us.