Relief measures will be further stepped up in the flood-hit areas of Bihar with the Nepalese authorities allowing transportation of relief materials through its territory to the bordering worst-affected districts of the state.

State Chief Secretary K A H Subramanian told PTI on Friday that the Nepalese authorities had conceded the request of the state government to allow transportation of relief materials for the marooned people in Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Supaul, Saharsa, Purnea, East and West Champaran districts.

Wheat, rice and other materials would be taken to the flood-hit districts through Nepal via Raxaul and Janakpurdham, Subramanian said. He added that the road permits for carrying these relief materials would be issued by the concerned district magistrates.

He said the Nepalese authorities had also stopped taxing relief commodities at its check posts from yesterday. He expressed confidence that the supply of essential commodities to the flood-hit areas would be normal in a couple of days.

Besides, a team of army engineers had arrived to construct belly bridges on Darbhanga-Samastipur, Jele-Aterbale-Pupri, Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi and Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa roads.