Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Bihar Floods Affect 16 Lakh People as Rivers Rise
Bihar is facing serious flooding after heavy rain caused rivers to rise.
About 16.85 lakh people in 11 districts have been affected.
Patna and Bhagalpur are among the badly affected areas.
Some roads and railway services have been disrupted by the water.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary flew over Bhagalpur to inspect the situation.
The government is using boats, rescue teams, food kitchens and relief supplies to help people.
An independent lawmaker said officials must speed up relief and provide food, medicine, water and medical care.
More rain and rising rivers could continue to make the situation difficult.
Flooding has affected around 16.85 lakh people across 300 gram panchayats in 61 blocks spanning 11 Bihar districts.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary conducted an aerial survey of Bhagalpur and inspected the damaged Koji Koraiya embankment.
The Ganga and Punpun inundated rural Patna, disrupting rail and road traffic and submerging low-lying areas.
Authorities are operating 1,158 boats, 80 community kitchens, 27 State Disaster Response Force teams and seven National Disaster Response Force teams.
The Ganga crossed its highest flood level at two locations as heavy rainfall in Bihar and neighbouring Nepal pushed river levels higher.
- Who
- Around 16.85 lakh flood-affected people in Bihar, along with state authorities, rescue teams and local representatives.
- What
- Flooding has affected 11 districts, damaged an embankment, disrupted transport and inundated parts of Patna and other areas.
- When
- Saturday, Sep. 5; the Bhagalpur embankment breach occurred about a week earlier.
- Where
- Bihar, including Patna, Bhagalpur and Naugachia, as well as districts along the Ganga and other rivers.
- Why
- Heavy rainfall in Bihar and neighbouring Nepal caused river levels to rise, with several rivers flowing above danger or highest flood levels.
Relief Efforts Are Underway
Relief Must Be Accelerated
Government response
Relief Efforts Are Underway
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said flood protection and public safety were the top priorities, while officials reported boats, community kitchens, relief supplies and rescue teams deployed across affected districts.
Relief Must Be Accelerated
Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan, also known as Pappu Yadav, urged the administration to expedite relief and ensure adequate food, medicines, boats, drinking water, relief camps and medical facilities.
Assessment of official action
Relief Efforts Are Underway
BJP national president Nitin Nabin said the chief minister was monitoring the situation and that the government was working to minimize difficulties for residents.
Relief Must Be Accelerated
Flood-affected residents' needs remained a focus of local criticism, with Ravi Shankar Prasad and Rajesh Ranjan calling for sustained attention to relief and rescue operations and essential supplies.
- People affected
- Around 16.85 lakh people
- Geographic impact
- 300 gram panchayats across 61 blocks in 11 districts
- Worst-affected district cited
- Patna, with 2.32 lakh people affected
- Relief kitchens
- 80 community kitchens are operating
- Boats deployed
- 1,158 boats are being used for evacuation and movement
- Rescue teams
- 27 State Disaster Response Force teams and seven National Disaster Response Force teams
- Rainfall
- Bihar received 60.8 mm of rainfall in September, 69% above normal