A waterlogged hospital after heavy rainfall, in Kaimur district, Bihar, on August 13, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Nearly 25 lakh people in low-lying areas of Bihar have been affected by floods in 10 districts along the Ganga river. Incessant rainfall in the catchment areas of Nepal has pushed water levels above danger level at several places.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held a high-level review meeting on Wednesday (August 13, 2025) to assess the relief and rescue operations in the flood-affected areas and issued necessary instructions to the concerned officials.
During the video conference from Patna, Mr. Kumar inquired about the updated status of the water level of the rivers of the State.
Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary of the Disaster Management Department, Pratyaya Amrit, provided detailed information to the Chief Minister.
Due to heavy rainfall, the districts of Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Khagaria, Bhagalpur, and Katihar have been particularly affected. Mr. Amrit informed that nearly 25 lakh people across 348 panchayats in 54 blocks have been impacted by the floods.
Seven teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and nine teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed for relief and rescue operations. Sixty motorboats and 1,233 country-made boats are continuously engaged in relief work.
Polythene sheets and dry ration packets are being distributed among the affected people. Mr. Amrit asserted that all arrangements have been made in the flood relief camps as per the Standard Operating Procedure.
More than 13 lakh people are being provided with food at community kitchen centre. Mr. Amrit added that the Disaster Management Department is keeping an eye on the situation by reviewing the relief and rescue operations on a daily basis.
The District Magistrates of the affected districts, along with the secretaries and principal secretaries of the concerned departments, were present at the meeting.
Mr. Kumar instructed officials to remain alert, keeping in mind the rising water level in the areas along the riverbank, and to help the affected people as soon as possible and with full sensitivity.
He also directed that the gratuitous relief (GR) amount be distributed to flood-affected people and ensure payment to farmers for crop damage caused by the flood.
Accompanied by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Disaster Management Minister Vijay Kumar Mandal, Mr. Kumar asked the Road Construction Department and the Rural Works Department to ensure the restoration of roads damaged by the floods so that people do not face any problem in commuting.
Published – August 13, 2025 10:50 pm IST
