Union Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan conducted an extensive assessment of flood-affected areas in Bihar on September 16, 2026, following directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Accompanied by Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, state ministers, and senior officials from both central and state governments, Chouhan surveyed the worst-affected districts of Hajipur, Vaishali, Munger, and Bhagalpur using multiple transportation modes including motorboat, country boat, tractor, and helicopter.
The flood situation has reached critical levels with water levels nearly one foot higher than those recorded during the historic 2016 floods. Agricultural damage is severe with banana and maize crops submerged for more than 10 days, resulting in significant crop loss. The floods have directly affected nearly 50 lakh people, forcing many families to evacuate their homes, with additional damage to houses and loss of livestock.
The state government has initiated immediate relief measures including direct benefit transfers of Rs 7,000 to each affected family's bank account, implemented on a war footing. Medical teams are being deployed by boat to provide healthcare services and medicines to affected populations in their homes and relief camps. The administration has also arranged for safe shelter, clean drinking water, dry rations, and cooked food packets for displaced families.
Central support mechanisms are being activated with officials from Agriculture and Rural Development departments conducting preliminary assessments. A detailed Inter-Ministerial Central Team will subsequently be deployed to assess losses across affected districts, specifically evaluating damage to agricultural crops, roads, bridges, houses, and livestock. The Centre has committed to providing adequate financial and material assistance through the National Disaster Response Fund once the state government submits the required proposal, with assurances that no affected family will be left helpless.
A high-level review meeting was scheduled for 6 PM at the Chief Minister's residence on Anne Marg to discuss relief material distribution, healthcare services, crop compensation plans, and infrastructure restoration, with participation from senior officials of both central and state governments.