The severe drought in several parts of Bihar has resulted in six starvation deaths in Nalanda district alone last month and the RJD Government in the state is doing little to provide relief to the affected people, Janata Dal (U) member Nitish Kumar told the Lok Sabha today.

Responding to Kumar’s concern over the drought situation, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the Centre would take up the matter with the state government.

The Centre has reports about the flood and drought situation in Bihar and it has already provided large quantity of foodgrains and funds to help the affected people, Patil said.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Kumar gave details of the starvation deaths in Nalanda which he was representing in Lok Sabha.

He asked the Government to send a team of officials to Bihar to assess the situation and suggest measures to tackle the situation.

Wells in the drought-hit areas have dried up and hand pumps are not working as the water level has gone down, he said, charging the Government with failure to take up any relief work.

Kharif crops have alrady been lost and there is no hope of sowing of Rabi crops in the absence of rains and there is no fodder for cattle, Kumar said.