Tejashwi Yadav Urges PM Modi to Release ₹5,000 crore for Bihar Flood Relief

Patna, 8 September 2026 – As the Ganga swells and water laps at homes in more than twenty districts, the Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, sent a two‑page appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. In his letter, the RJD’s national working president pressed the Prime Minister to fly to the state, label the calamity a “national disaster” and, most importantly, release a hefty sum of ₹5,000 crore to jump‑start relief, rescue and reconstruction.

Yadav’s plea is not just a polite request. He paints a stark picture: thousands of families are stranded on rooftops and makeshift boats, battling the relentless rise of river waters that have already shattered bridges, washed away roads and ruined crops worth billions. “The loss of life and property is staggering,” he writes, adding that essential services – clean drinking water, medicines, electricity and even fodder for cattle – are in short supply for a large swath of the population.

While the central government has dispatched a few teams, Yadav argues that the assistance is "a drop in the ocean" compared to the scale of the disaster. He points out that Bihar, often described as one of the country’s most vulnerable states, is being left to fend for itself, with the state machinery scrambling to set up relief camps that are already under strain.

“The current response feels woefully inadequate,” Yadav lamented, using language that mixes frustration with urgency. He contended that the NDA‑led Union government, together with the state’s own ministers, appear “helpless, incapacitated, and powerless” – a harsh assessment meant to spur decisive action.

In addition to the financial ask, Yadav urged the Prime Minister to personally visit the flood‑hit zones. He believes a high‑profile visit would not only boost morale among the affected communities but also accelerate the deployment of central resources, from rescue helicopters to medical teams.

Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, who has been touring relief camps, echoed similar concerns, noting that the situation remains “grim” despite ongoing efforts. The state’s administration has been distributing food packets, setting up temporary shelters and coordinating with the National Disaster Management Authority, yet the magnitude of the floodwaters keeps overwhelming these measures.

Local residents, many of whom have been forced to evacuate with only a few belongings, speak of sleepless nights and the anxiety of losing their livelihoods. “We are just trying to survive day by day,” said one fisherman from Nakta Diyara, his voice trembling as he described the relentless currents.

The letter also touches on a larger, systemic issue: Yadav claims that the disaster is not solely a product of nature but also the result of years of neglect in disaster preparedness, mitigation and adaptation strategies. He calls for a comprehensive review of Bihar’s flood‑management plan, urging the Centre to help strengthen embankments, improve early‑warning systems and invest in climate‑resilient infrastructure.

As the monsoon season draws to a close, the clock is ticking. Whether the Union government will meet the ₹5,000 crore request – roughly equivalent to the entire annual budget for some Indian states – remains to be seen. For now, the people of Bihar wait, hoping that the plea from Tejashwi Yadav will translate into concrete help before the waters rise any higher.