Muzaffarpur: An Indian Air Force helicopter, engaged in delivering flood relief material from Sitamarhi, crashed in Aurai, Muzaffarpur, on Wednesday. The accident occurred in Ward 13 of Naya village, where the helicopter fell into the water. All four personnel on board, including two pilots and two soldiers, were rescued safely.
Chaos erupted at the crash site as local residents, alongside the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), swiftly launched rescue operations. Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management Department, Pratyaya Amrit, confirmed the incident, stating, “The helicopter was engaged in delivering relief materials when its engine failed. The pilot showed remarkable presence of mind by executing an emergency landing in the water, which saved the lives of the crew. The soldiers sustained minor injuries, and we intend to honor their bravery.”
A video of the incident surfaced, capturing the moment the helicopter lost control mid-air before the pilot skillfully managed a water landing. Another video showed rescue teams working diligently to save the crew, extracting them from the submerged helicopter using boats.
Following the crash, Purnia MP Rajesh Ranjan, also known as Pappu Yadav, criticized the central and state governments. He alleged that the Air Force was provided with a faulty helicopter, which led to the accident. “A defective helicopter was deliberately given to the IAF. The government sent the IAF for relief efforts five days late, and even then, they were provided with an unreliable helicopter,” he claimed.
The crash occurred amid widespread flooding in Bihar, affecting over 10 lakh people across 16 districts due to heavy rains in Nepal, which have caused rivers in Bihar to overflow. The districts of Purnia, Saharsa, Supaul, and Darbhanga are among the worst-hit areas.
The Indian Air Force has been enlisted to aid in flood relief efforts, dropping food packets to stranded residents in flood-affected regions such as Sitamarhi and Darbhanga. Helicopters are being used to deliver supplies to villages that have been completely cut off from road traffic due to rising water levels.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conducted an aerial survey of the Kosi region to assess the flood situation. The Central Government has released the first installment of ₹655.60 crore from the National Disaster Relief Fund to assist affected areas.
Meanwhile, late Tuesday evening, the Lakhandei dam in Aurai, Muzaffarpur, collapsed, severing connections between 15 villages and the block headquarters.
The floods have led to tragic loss of life, with eight people reportedly swept away in different districts. In Supaul, a three-year-old girl was carried off by floodwaters while sitting on her grandfather’s shoulders. In Darbhanga’s Kiratpur, a teenager and three others were swept away, while three people in Runni Saidpur and Belsand, Sitamarhi, also lost their lives to the floodwaters. A woman reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack in the midst of the crisis.
