Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Bihar Floods Affect 49 Lakh as Political Blame Intensifies
Bihar is facing serious floods after heavy rain caused several rivers to rise.
About 49 lakh people in 15 districts were affected by September 14.
The government opened community kitchens and relief camps and sent rescue teams.
Many people on social media questioned whether political leaders were helping enough.
BJP MP and actor Manoj Tiwari became a focus of this criticism.
Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav blamed the central and state governments and requested Rs 5,000 crore in aid.
Other leaders, including Pappu Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav, also criticized aspects of the response.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said financial help had been sent to affected families, while a central team prepared to assess the damage.
Flooding affected about 49.36 lakh people across 15 Bihar districts by September 14.
The Ganga, Kosi, Budhi Gandak, Punpun, Bagmati and Ghaghara were above danger levels at several locations.
Social media criticism questioned BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and other leaders’ visibility during the floods.
Tejashwi Yadav demanded national-disaster status and Rs 5,000 crore in central assistance.
The Bihar government transferred Rs 579.23 crore to 8.27 lakh affected families, while a central assessment team was scheduled to visit.
- Who
- Nearly 49.36 lakh affected people, Bihar officials, political leaders including Manoj Tiwari, Tejashwi Yadav, Pappu Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Samrat Choudhary, and central relief agencies are involved.
- What
- Severe flooding has triggered rescue and relief operations as well as political criticism over the response.
- When
- The situation was reported on September 14-16, 2026, with financial assistance transferred on September 15.
- Where
- Across 15 districts of Bihar, including Patna, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Purnea and Araria.
- Why
- Heavy rain in Bihar and river catchment areas in Nepal caused rivers to swell and exceed danger levels.
Critics and Opposition Leaders
Government Response
Adequacy of relief
Critics and Opposition Leaders
Tejashwi Yadav alleged that Bihar was receiving inadequate, 'stepmotherly' support and demanded national-disaster status and Rs 5,000 crore in assistance. Pappu Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav also criticized aspects of the response.
Government Response
The Bihar government said relief operations were underway, including community kitchens, camps, rescue deployments and direct payments to affected families.
Political visibility during floods
Critics and Opposition Leaders
Social media posts questioned the visibility of political leaders, including Manoj Tiwari, and contrasted their alleged absence during the disaster with their presence during election campaigns.
Government Response
The articles report that government and disaster-response personnel were deployed, while leaders and officials continued announcing or organizing relief measures.
Causes and long-term responsibility
Critics and Opposition Leaders
Lalu Prasad Yadav called for a permanent solution involving rivers flowing from Nepal and raised concerns about river maintenance and Bihar's interests under the Farakka agreement.
Government Response
Samrat Choudhary attributed part of the flooding to heavy rainfall in neighboring states and Nepal's catchment areas. Vijay Choudhary blamed earlier RJD-led and United Front governments for allegedly ignoring Bihar's interests during negotiations over the 1996 water-sharing agreement.
- People affected
- About 49.36 lakh people
- Districts affected
- 15 districts in Bihar
- Relief facilities
- 1,260 community kitchens and 13 relief camps
- People accommodated
- Around 11,060 people
- State assistance
- Rs 579.23 crore transferred to 8.27 lakh families
- Family payment
- Rs 7,000 for each eligible family
- Rescue deployment
- 27 State Disaster Response Force teams and 10 National Disaster Response Force teams
- Requested central aid
- Tejashwi Yadav sought Rs 5,000 crore and national-disaster status