RJD MP urges Bihar CM to order probe into embankment breaches

Amid floods in several districts of Bihar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP from Buxar, Sudhakar Singh, on Sunday (October 4, 2026) wrote to Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, seeking an independent inquiry into the widespread flooding and embankment breaches across various districts of Bihar. He also demanded a review of expenditure on construction and maintenance, and action against responsible officials and engineers.

Mr. Singh said the severe flood situation in various districts and the incidents of dam and embankment breaches were deeply concerning. These things were causing immense damage to people’s lives, homes, agriculture, livestock, and livelihoods. He also said there were reports of homes being washed away by the floods.

The MP pointed out that the repeated breaching of embankments — constructed to provide protection against floods — raised serious questions regarding construction quality, maintenance, monitoring processes, and the accountability of the department concerned.

Also Read | Distress and panic in Bihar’s West Champaran district as Gandak river floods

“Keeping the embankments strong amid heavy rainfall and rising river water levels are a crucial responsibility of officials. Therefore, an inquiry is needed into these incidents which can determine the extent to which substandard construction, inadequate maintenance, technical errors, and administrative negligence contributed to the breaches,” Mr. Singh said in the four-page letter.

Mr. Singh said the Bihar government had not yet provided details about investigations or actions taken concerning the earlier incidents of embankment breaches.

Independent probe

The RJD MP demanded an independent and time-bound inquiry into the each incident along with a district-wise list of all dams and embankments that had breached. A technical and administrative inquiry should be conducted by an independent high-level committee.

“The inquiry should also review the location, time, and cause of the breaches, as well as any prior warnings issued and the rescue efforts undertaken. A detailed review of past expenditure and allocated funds and a review of the expenditure incurred over the last five years should be done,” Mr. Singh wrote.

He said inspection reports declaring the embankments safe prior to the floods should be reviewed, and if an embankment was certified as safe, the reasons for its breach and the basis for that certification must be clarified.

Mr. Singh added that an inquiry should also be conducted to determine whether timely action was taken in response to warnings issued by villagers or local public representatives.

“If evidence of negligence or irregularity is found, departmental proceedings must be initiated against officials and engineers. If the investigation reveals facts regarding corruption, misappropriation of funds, fraudulent payments, tampering with records, or criminal negligence, FIRs should be registered and legal proceedings initiated against the officials, engineers, and contractors under applicable laws,” Mr. Singh wrote.

Action should not be limited merely to transfers or attachment to headquarters.

Mr. Singh also demanded immediate safety inspections of the remaining vulnerable embankments to ensure necessary repairs and continuous monitoring. The MP demanded compensation and support under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for those whose homes had been destroyed or washed away by the floods.