Millions affected as floods strike India’s Bihar

Flooding in eastern India's Bihar state has displaced nearly five million people, officials announced on Tuesday. Aid is being delivered to the hardest-hit regions. This was revealed by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, who stated that food, clean drinking water, medicines, and other necessities are being provided to needy families.

Bihar is one of India's most flood-prone states, with all seven of its major rivers exceeding danger levels after heavy rain. The state water resources department reported this on Tuesday. Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister emphasized that the government's priority is to ensure every affected family receives relief, while Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary transferred ₹7,000 (US$72) to over 827,000 affected families.

Floods began this month, leading to 20 reported deaths and widespread damage to farmland. Bihar lies downstream from Nepal, which recently experienced deadly flooding. Chandan Kumar Mahto, a resident of Saran district, said, "Flood is our fate, every year we face it. We are helpless... we are struggling for food, safe drinking water and milk for children."

In response, Bihar's coalition government has opened 13 relief camps, 1,000 community kitchens, and deployed nearly 1,800 boats in flood-affected areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a federal team to assess the damage. Lakhmania Devi, 42, from Vaishali district, said, "We live like nomads, without a kitchen to prepare food and drink dirty water to survive."

Hari Mandal, 28, a laborer from Ghogha village in Bhagalpur district, added, "If it continues longer, I will go without food as there are no savings left to survive."