1 hr ago
Rahul Gandhi challenges BJP over Bihar's recurring flood crisis
Floods have affected many parts of Bihar again.
Rahul Gandhi says the state needs lasting ways to reduce the damage, not only emergency help.
He asked the BJP-led government what it had done about the recurring problem over 17 years.
A state official linked the latest rise in the Gandak River to heavy rain in Nepal.
In Saran district, the Indian Air Force dropped food because floods had made roads difficult to use.
A man died during an air-drop operation, but police had not yet confirmed why.
The state government says it is pursuing longer-term work on rivers, water management, and flood control.
Opposition leaders have criticized the government's handling of the crisis.
Rahul Gandhi questioned what the BJP-led Bihar government had done over 17 years to address recurring floods.
He called for a permanent solution, saying annual floods destroy lives and livelihoods and force families to migrate.
Heavy rainfall in Nepal between September 24 and 27 was cited by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary as a cause of the latest rise in the Gandak.
The Indian Air Force air-dropped more than 28 tonnes of food in over 5,600 ration packets in flood-hit Saran district.
A man died in Saran during an air-drop operation; police were awaiting a post-mortem report to determine the cause.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi questioned the BJP-led Bihar government; state officials and the Indian Air Force were also involved in the response.
- What
- Recurring floods in Bihar prompted criticism of the government's prevention and response efforts, alongside emergency relief operations.
- Where
- Bihar, including flood-hit Saran district; heavy rainfall in Nepal was linked to the latest river surge.
- When
- Rahul Gandhi made his latest remarks on Sunday; reports cited in the article cover events in September and early October.
- Why
- Heavy rainfall in Nepal was cited as contributing to the latest rise in the Gandak, while recurring floods have caused widespread disruption.
Opposition criticism
Government position
Long-term flood prevention
Opposition criticism
Rahul Gandhi said Bihar needs a permanent solution and questioned what had changed on the ground after 17 years of BJP government.
Government position
The state government has said it is pursuing long-term measures involving river conservation, water management, and flood control.
Handling the crisis
Opposition criticism
Opposition leaders have criticized the government's handling of the floods and urged faster relief and rescue operations.
Government position
The government has pointed to ongoing relief efforts and long-term flood-control measures; the article also reports an Indian Air Force food airdrop in Saran.
Key facts
- Flood impact
- A September 15 report said nearly 49.67 lakh people across 15 districts had been affected.
- Rainfall period cited
- September 24–27 in Nepal, according to Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary.
- Relief operation
- The Indian Air Force air-dropped more than 28 tonnes of food in over 5,600 dry-ration packets.
- Relief location
- Flood-hit areas of Saran district.
- Death during operation
- A man died in Saran during an air-drop operation; police were awaiting a post-mortem report to establish the cause.
- Rahul Gandhi's criticism
- He asked what the BJP government had done over 17 years to tackle the recurring floods.
- State government's position
- It has said it is pursuing long-term measures involving river conservation, water management, and flood control.
Quotes
Rahul Gandhi
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
“Floods have once again wreaked havoc in Bihar. Lakhs of people are affected, and hundreds of villages are submerged. There are reports of deaths and people going missing. I extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones.”
telegraphindia.com
“The most tragic aspect is that this crisis in Bihar is not new. Every year, floods strike, lives are lost, families are devastated, and people are forced to migrate.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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