New Delhi - The Indian military on Tuesday sent in more soldiers, boats and aircraft to help with rescue and relief efforts in India's flood-devastated eastern state of Bihar amid reports of food riots and warnings of possible outbreaks of waterborne disease.

At least 56 deaths had been confirmed since the Kosi River breached an embankment in neighbouring Nepal and inundated vast areas of Bihar on August 18, and officials estimated that another 50 people had died.

The number of deaths could go up, Prataya Amrit, a senior official at the Bihar Disaster Management Department, warned in the state capital, Patna.

Patna, Sept 2 : Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday lambasted the Bihar Government for laxity in providing relief to the flood victims.

Addressing media here, Lalu Yadav said the Cemtral Government is committed to bail out the people of the flood affected regions from the crisis.

Madhepura/ Jammu/Bangalore, Sep 2: Relief continues to pour in for flood ravaged Bihar even as its impact shows no signs of abating.

Madhepura district is said to be one of the worst flood-hit areas of the state.

People continue to march to safer destinations.

"We left our place hurriedly as floodwater started gushing inside our houses and soon it rose waist-level. We could not collect even some food articles while fleeing," said Satya Prakash Kumar, a victim.

Madhepura (Bihar), Sep 2: Flood victims in Bihar''s rain-drenched Madhepura District are looting relief material as the deluge continues to affect life across the state.

Some victims aided a government-run depot storing food materials.

Victims said the flooded areas were facing sn acute shortage of essential supplies.

"People are hungry and they are running from pillar to post to get food. Instead of food, we got baton charged by the police. We want food," said Kumar, a victim.

Officials said the victims'' patience snapped when the officer manning the depot tried to impose some restriction in food distribution.

New Delhi, Sep 1 : The Armed forces have donated two days of their rations for distribution to the people affected by devastating floods in Bihar.

The Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, today made this announcement whilst expressing solidarity with the grief stricken populace.

The Army today intensified its ongoing rescue work in flood hit areas of Bihar, and rushed 16 additional columns of men to join relief efforts.

Central Army Commander Lt General H S Panag, who is supervising the operations, said: “Another 16 columns of men have been sent to areas affected by the floods in River Kosi.”