Patna, Aug 20 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Wednesday ordered speeding up of rescue and relief operations in flood-hit districts of the state even as the situation continued to remain grim.

"Manjhi has asked district magistrates of flood-affected districts to speed up rescue and relief operations and provide timely help to millions of flood victims," Anirudh Kumar, an official of the State Disaster Management Department said.

He said Manjhi who held video-conferencing with the district magistrates, instructed them to ensure that relief reaches the flood victims.

Kumar said so far, 17 people have lost their lives due to floods in the state.

"About 1.4 million people in over 600 villages in 14 districts of the state have been affected by the floods," he added.

Kumar said nearly 40,000 people have been evacuated from the flood-hit districts and added 76 relief camps have been set up for them.

The government had earlier sounded a high alert as water level of major rivers in north Bihar, especially Kosi, Gandak, Kamla Balan and Bagmati, rose following heavy rain in their catchment areas in Nepal.

Over a dozen teams of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the flood-hit districts, with the latter asking people living in low-lying areas to move to higher ground.