6 hrs ago
Shivraj Singh Chouhan Reviews Bihar Flood Relief and Damage
Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Bihar to see how floods had harmed people and farms.
He travelled with Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to villages in Vaishali district.
They inspected flooded areas using a boat and a tractor.
Chouhan also looked at damaged crops and spoke with farmers.
He held a meeting with officials about rescue work and relief supplies.
He was scheduled to visit relief camps in Munger and Bhagalpur.
Officials said about 49.67 to 49.74 lakh people in 15 districts were affected.
Opposition leaders said the central government had responded too slowly.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited flood-hit areas of Bihar on Wednesday to review relief and rescue operations.
Chouhan and Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inspected Terasia and Saraipur villages in Vaishali district by boat and tractor.
The minister assessed crop damage, met farmers and residents, and reviewed assistance needed for affected communities.
A high-level meeting with Bihar officials covered disaster management, relief, rescue operations and support for farmers.
Officials said between 49.67 lakh and 49.74 lakh people across 15 districts were affected, while opposition leaders criticised the Centre’s response.
- Who
- Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, state officials, farmers, residents and opposition leaders including Manoj Jha and Tejashwi Yadav.
- What
- A visit and official review of Bihar’s flood damage, crop losses, relief operations, rescue work and assistance needs.
- Where
- Flood-affected areas in Vaishali, planned survey areas around Dighwara and Maner, Patna, and relief camps and an embankment in Munger and Bhagalpur.
- When
- Wednesday, September 16, during Chouhan’s day-long tour of Bihar.
- Why
- To assess flood damage and determine requirements for relief, rehabilitation, restoration and assistance to affected farmers.
Opposition criticism
Government and official position
Speed of central response
Opposition criticism
RJD MP Manoj Jha said the Centre took too long to respond and questioned the cost of Chouhan’s reported chartered-plane travel. Tejashwi Yadav accused the Centre of treating Bihar in a “stepmotherly” manner.
Government and official position
The government’s stated position was that Chouhan’s visit would assess the flood situation, damage and ongoing relief and rescue operations so that assistance needs could be determined.
State and central assistance
Opposition criticism
Tejashwi Yadav said Bihar’s “double-engine” government had failed to secure central assistance and criticised the chief minister and Union ministers for not bringing enough help to flood victims.
Government and official position
Chouhan was scheduled to hold a high-level meeting with the chief minister and senior officials to review relief, rehabilitation, restoration and assistance for affected farmers.
Purpose of the visit
Opposition criticism
Opposition leaders characterised the visit as delayed and insufficient in light of the floods’ impact on Bihar.
Government and official position
Officials described the tour as an extensive assessment involving field inspections, farmer interactions, aerial surveying, relief-camp visits and reviews of rescue operations.
Key facts
- Affected population
- Officials reported approximately 49.67 lakh to 49.74 lakh people affected.
- Affected districts
- 15 districts: Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Purnea, Madhepura and Araria.
- Village inspection
- Terasia and Saraipur, also written as Sarai-pur, in Vaishali district; the inspection took place by boat and tractor.
- Planned aerial survey
- Dighwara and Maner were listed for a helicopter survey in the scheduled programme.
- Review meeting
- Chouhan was scheduled to meet Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and senior officials at Samvad in Patna.
- Relief-camp visits
- Nawabgarhi in Munger and Bhagalpur Polytechnic College were listed for visits.
- River conditions
- Water levels were receding in most rivers, including the Ganga, but several rivers remained above danger marks in some locations.
Quotes
Government officials
Officials describing the Union minister’s planned Bihar flood-relief activities
“The engines of the ‘double-engine’ government in Bihar have failed. I am not aware of how often the chief minister talks to PM Modi, and wonder why he has not been able to secure central assistance. There are many Union ministers from Bihar, but none has the influence to bring central help to the state.”
theprint.in
“You took far too long to show up. Bihar’s plight is not on their minds. Now they are arriving today. I hear they are coming by a chartered plane. It would have been far better had the money been spent for flood victims.”
theprint.in
Sources
Related news
Central Team to Visit Bihar for Flood Assessment
Bihar Faces Devastating Floods Despite Low Rainfall, Chief Minister Says
Bihar floods affect 27 lakh as relief expected within days
Bihar CM Surveys Flood-Hit Border Areas After Nepal Deluge
Bihar Floods Affect 49 Lakh as Political Blame Intensifies
Bihar CM Reviews Flood Relief Operations, Aids Victims’ Families
ISCL Plans Bigger National Footprint Ahead of Season 2
Two Earthquakes Strike Northwestern Nepal, No Immediate Damage Reported
Letters Debate Faith, History, Diplomacy and Climate Responsibility
