1 hr ago
Bihar floods affect 27 lakh as relief expected within days
Floodwaters have spread across 13 districts in Bihar and affected more than 27 lakh people.
Rivers overflowed and caused the flooding.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is supervising rescue and relief work.
He said the Ganga’s water level has gone down by about 17 to 18 centimetres.
However, a very large amount of water is still being released from the Farakka Barrage.
Officials expect the situation to improve in two or three days.
Families of people who drowned will receive Rs 4 lakh.
Opposition leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav wants more national help and a long-term plan to reduce future floods.
Flooding from overflowing rivers has affected more than 27 lakh people across 13 Bihar districts.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said the Ganga’s water level had fallen by about 17 to 18 centimetres.
About 1.5 million cusecs of water continues to be released from the Farakka Barrage.
The state government provided Rs 4 lakh to dependents of people who died by drowning and promised crop-loss compensation.
Tejashwi Prasad Yadav urged a national-disaster declaration, Rs 5,000 crore in aid and a long-term Flood Resilience Mission.
- Who
- More than 27 lakh affected residents, the Bihar government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, and opposition leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.
- What
- Flooding from overflowing rivers has inundated 13 districts, prompting rescue, relief and compensation measures.
- Where
- Across 13 districts of Bihar, including areas affected by the Ganga and water released from the Farakka Barrage.
- When
- The situation was assessed on Monday; improvement is expected over the next two to three days.
- Why
- Overflowing rivers and continued water discharge have caused flooding; Yadav also attributed the crisis partly to failures in disaster response, mitigation and adaptation.
Bihar Government Response
Opposition Demands
Current flood outlook
Bihar Government Response
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said the Ganga’s level had fallen and the situation should improve over the next two to three days.
Opposition Demands
Tejashwi Prasad Yadav described the flooding as a devastating crisis requiring immediate additional central assistance and a special relief package.
Long-term flood management
Bihar Government Response
The government said crop damage would be assessed and adequate compensation would be provided to affected farmers.
Opposition Demands
Yadav said recurring floods also reflected failures in disaster management and called for a Flood Resilience Mission covering rivers, embankments, drainage, reservoirs, forecasting and regional water-management agreements.
Scale of government assistance
Bihar Government Response
The state provided Rs 4 lakh to dependents of people who died by drowning and is conducting relief and rescue operations.
Opposition Demands
Yadav urged the prime minister to declare the floods a national disaster and provide special assistance to farmers, labourers, livestock rearers and affected families.
Key facts
- People affected
- More than 27 lakh
- Districts affected
- 13 districts across Bihar
- Ganga water-level change
- Down approximately 17 to 18 centimetres
- Farakka discharge
- Around 1.5 million cusecs
- Death compensation
- Rs 4 lakh for each eligible dependent
- Requested central assistance
- Rs 5,000 crore
- Expected improvement
- Within two to three days
Quotes
Tejashwi Prasad Yadav
RJD National Working President who wrote to the Prime Minister about Bihar’s floods
“This situation is not merely a natural disaster, but is also the result of the continuous failure over the years in response, mitigation and adaptation under disaster management. Despite floods occurring every year, the necessary work has not been done towards finding a permanent solution.”
thestatesman.com
“This mission should include river and embankment management, drainage, revival of reservoirs, modern flood forecasting, and an effective water-management policy and agreements with Nepal, Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries,”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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