Bars and liquor stores are thriving in flood-affected areas, offering drinks against flood-relief cheques

People in flood-ravaged areas are trading their relief cheques for liquor.

A voluntary organisation working in Raichur district has returned with shocking stories of how money being handed out by the government is ending up in the coffers of bar and liquor store owners.

"It is pathetic," said Anil Kumar, chairman of SAVE, a voluntary organisation working in Raichur, one of the worst affected districts. "And women and families are frustrated."

At a village called Talamari, Kumar saw people giving away their cheques to the bar managers.

"Business is increasing at the bars," he said.

MiD DAY was able to independently confirm Kumar's observations.

Take relief cheque, make beeline for bar: People whose homes were damaged in the floods earlier this month, as in Talamari in Raichur district (right), are said to be spending all the monetary aid they received on liquoru00a0illustration/Sameer Pawar