Millions affected as floods strike India’s Bihar

Bihar, one of India's most flood-prone regions, has been hit by severe flooding affecting nearly five million people, officials announced on Tuesday. All seven of the state's key rivers were above danger levels following heavy rain. The state water resources department reported that the situation was dire, with food, clean drinking water, and medicines being urgently provided to the affected families.

Bihar's deputy chief minister, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, stated that emergency aid was being continuously delivered to those in need. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary transferred ₹7,000 (US$72) to over 827,000 affected families. The government's primary focus is on providing relief and ensuring reconstruction efforts prioritize building back better.

Floods began this month, resulting in at least 20 reported deaths. Local media have documented the devastation, with farmland submerged and communities struggling to cope. Chandan Kumar Mahto, a Saran district resident, described their helplessness in the face of ongoing disaster, emphasizing their struggle for basic necessities like food, safe drinking water, and milk for their children.

The Bihar government has opened 13 relief camps, along with over 1,000 community kitchens and nearly 1,800 boats to aid in the disaster-struck areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dispatched a federal government team to assess the damage comprehensively.

Amidst the chaos, residents like Lakhmania Devi from Vaishali district and Hari Mandal, a laborer from Bhagalpur district, recounted their harrowing experiences. Devi and her family sought refuge on their roof as floodwaters entered their home, while Mandal expressed his inability to work, fearing he would go hungry if the floods persisted.