Patna: As heavy rains continue in Bihar, a special training was organised on Thursday in Patna to prepare emergency teams for floods. The workshop was held by UNICEF with the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), the Bihar government, and Jeevika. Nearly 100 field engineers and officers attended the training called “Resilient Bihar – Bridging Flood Response with Safe Water and Sanitation Access.” The goal was to make sure people get clean drinking water and proper toilets even when their villages are flooded.
Bihar is the most flood-prone state in India. Last year, floods affected over 15 lakh people in 17 districts like Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Supaul, and Saharsa. Senior officials such as Rajesh Kumar from Jeevika and Manoj Kumar Singh, Chief Engineer of PHED, spoke at the event. Singh said, “People affected by floods have the first right to safe services. We must be ready before the next flood happens.”
The training showed participants how to use the Flood Response Support Kit (FRSK), a mobile water treatment and supply system provided by UNICEF. These kits include water purification machines, big inflatable tanks, tap stands, and testing tools to check water safety. Experts explained chlorine dosage, turbidity testing, sanitation in flooded areas, and how to work with the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) during emergencies.
UNICEF’s Bihar Chief, Margaret Gwada, said children suffer the most during floods when they lose access to clean water and toilets. She added, “This training is about being ready so that no child falls sick from preventable diseases during floods.” The workshop ended with practical exercises and engineers saying these trainings help them act quickly and confidently. With climate change making floods worse every year, such preparation will help Bihar save lives when the next disaster hits.
