Bihar Transfers ₹112 Crore Flood Relief Directly to 1.6 Lakh Families

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has disbursed ₹112.14 crore in flood relief funds directly to the bank accounts of 1,60,201 affected families across the state. The transfer, conducted through the Direct Benefit Transfer system on Monday, provides ₹7,000 to each household impacted by recent flooding.

The latest disbursement brings the total number of families receiving assistance to 10,37,391, with cumulative relief amounting to ₹726.17 crore. The state has been dealing with severe flood conditions that affected multiple districts in recent months.

During a review meeting held on October 6 at the Sankalp auditorium in Patna, officials briefed the Chief Minister on the extent of damage. Water Resources Department Secretary Dr. Chandrashekhar Singh explained that the state experienced flooding in two distinct phases, with major rivers including the Ganga, Son, Ghaghra, Kosi and Punpun reaching record water levels during the first phase.

The second phase saw the Gandak River recording unprecedented levels at four locations due to heavy rainfall, causing embankment damage at six sites across West Champaran, Gopalganj and Saran districts. Choudhary attributed the severity of this year's floods to exceptionally high water volumes and silt accumulation in riverbeds.

The Chief Minister has directed officials to maintain continuous monitoring of river conditions and submit a comprehensive damage assessment report promptly to accelerate relief, rehabilitation and development initiatives in affected areas. Bihar recently became the first state in India to formulate a dedicated silt policy to address one of the key factors contributing to flooding.