Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Bihar Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary undertook a thorough examination of flood-stricken areas in Bihar. This initiative occurred on September 16, as part of their commitment to assess the devastation and outline a plan for recovery. Chouhan confirmed that over 50 lakh people have been displaced due to the floods, which reportedly surpassed water levels from the catastrophic floods in 2016.

During the inspection in Hajipur, Chouhan commented on the significant impact on rural livelihoods, mentioning that crops such as banana and maize have been severely damaged. He emphasised that the flooding has lasted for over ten days, causing permanent loss to local agriculture and displacement of families.

Central Government’s Commitment to Assistance

Chouhan detailed that he was dispatched to Bihar on the orders of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasising the central government’s commitment to aid the state during the ongoing crisis. He explained that teams from the central government are already evaluating the extent of damage in various districts. The urgent relief effort has seen the state administration begin transferring Rs 7,000 per family to assist those impacted by the floods.

In response to the scale of the disaster, Chouhan mentioned that specialised teams from both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Rural Development have been deployed to assist affected areas. Furthermore, he announced that an inter-ministerial central team will soon visit Bihar to further assess the situation.

Chouhan praised the Bihar government’s efforts, noting the coordinated response in health care and provisions for food distribution. He reiterated the central government’s dedication to support the state through the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) based on the damage assessments submitted by the state authorities.

Response from Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed gratitude for the central government’s support during this challenging period. He highlighted the continued joint inspection efforts across various severely affected districts, showing unity between state and central authorities in crisis management.

Choudhary also mentioned visits to Munger and Bhagalpur as part of their ongoing assessment efforts. He acknowledged the financial aid initiated by the state government, affirming that the central delegation’s arrival would bolster further support for Bihar after their assessments are complete.

Earlier, on September 15, Chief Minister Choudhary had inaugurated a relief distribution initiative at the ‘Sankalp’ auditorium. This programme facilitated the transfer of Rs 579.23 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer, providing Rs 7,000 to 8,27,472 families affected by the floods, evidencing significant governmental efforts to alleviate the immediate hardships caused by the natural disaster.

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