Bihar Flood Relief: CM Samrat Choudhary Leads On‑Ground Operations

On Monday, Bihar’s chief minister Samrat Choudhary stepped out of his office and into the rain‑soaked streets of Vaishali and Saran districts. He walked through makeshift community kitchens, rolled up his sleeves, and even shared a simple meal with families whose lives have been upended by the floods.

His visit was not just symbolic. The CM instructed every District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police in the affected zones to cut through red tape and deliver relief without delay. “People need food, shelter and medicine now – we can’t afford any hesitation,” he told officials.

State authorities have mobilised an extensive support network. At present, 226 community kitchens are feeding roughly 375,000 flood‑victims. Four dedicated relief camps are providing shelter and basic health services to 2,505 people. In addition, 81,100 polythene sheets and 19,000 dry‑ration packets have been handed out to those stranded.

Transportation is another critical piece of the puzzle. Over 1,600 boats have been deployed to ferry stranded residents to safety, while 37 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are stationed across the most vulnerable districts, ready to act at a moment’s notice.

Speaking to ANI, the chief minister acknowledged that the situation remains “concerning,” but noted a modest drop in the Ganga’s water level – about 17‑18 centimetres – and said the flow at Farakka barrage is being released at roughly 1.5 million cubic metres per day. He is optimistic that the waters will continue to recede over the next two to three days, easing pressure on the already strained communities.

Earlier, after the river breached the Highest Flood Level (HFL) at Gandhi Ghat in Patna, the government issued a special vigilance directive for five downstream districts. Officials were told to monitor river gauges, embankments and low‑lying areas closely, keeping all flood‑control equipment on standby.

Citizens in the flood‑prone zones have been urged to stay away from the riverbanks, avoid overloaded boats and keep abreast of official updates. Local administrations are tasked with enforcing safety measures and ensuring that information reaches every household.

While the waters are slowly retreating, the administration’s message is clear: the relief effort is ongoing, and the state will continue to watch the situation around the clock, ready to act as soon as the next challenge arises.