Patna: Flooding in Bihar continues to disrupt lives, with the Ganga swelling in several districts despite a slight drop in water levels in recent days. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday undertook an aerial survey of flood-hit areas along the river, accompanied by senior officials from the Disaster Management Department.
The survey covered Raghopur Diara in Vaishali, Kala Diara, Rupas Mahaji, Ramnagar and Kasaha Diara in Patna, the Tal region of Mokama, Barh and Fatuha, as well as parts of Begusarai and Munger. The CM’s earlier plan to inspect the areas on Wednesday was cancelled due to bad weather.
During the flight, Kumar issued instructions to expedite relief and rehabilitation measures, including the swift distribution of ex gratia payments to affected families and compensation to farmers for crop losses. He also ordered the Road Construction and Rural Works departments to restore flood-damaged roads promptly.
Reviewing the situation via video conference a day earlier, Kumar had urged district administrations to remain on high alert in anticipation of further rises in water levels and to ensure aid reached residents with “full sensitivity”.
According to Additional Chief Secretary of Disaster Management Pratyaya Amrit, floods have impacted 25 lakh people across 348 panchayats in 54 blocks spanning 10 districts along the Ganges. Relief efforts involve seven NDRF and nine SDRF teams, 60 motorboats, and 1,233 other boats. Authorities have so far distributed 52,573 polythene sheets and 1,800 packets of dry rations.
