Chouhan Surveys Bihar Flood-Hit Districts, Vows Central Support

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan toured flood-affected districts of Bihar on Wednesday, pledging that no family hit by the disaster would be left without support.

He was accompanied by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Bihar ministers and teams drawn from the Central and State governments. The delegation used boats and tractors to reach cut-off areas in Hajipur, Vaishali, Munger and Bhagalpur, and also carried out an aerial survey to gauge the damage and the losses borne by farmers. Mr. Chouhan met a section of the flood victims during the visit.

The tour began in Terasia and Saprapur, among the worst-hit villages in Hajipur, where the minister inspected submerged homes and farmland from motorboats and traditional boats. In several locations that were difficult to access, he surveyed the situation from a tractor.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Mr. Chouhan said the Central government stood "like a rock" with the people of Bihar and would extend every possible financial and infrastructural help for their safe evacuation. He described the Centre as fully sensitive and proactive towards the devastation caused by the record rise in the levels of the Ganga and other rivers across the state.

"Approximately 50 lakh people have been directly affected by this calamity. People have been forced to leave their homes," he said.

He added that houses had been damaged and livestock lost, and that the sight of farmers' hard-earned labour submerged in water was deeply distressing. The government, he said, was fully committed to protecting their work and livelihoods.

Officials from the Agriculture and Rural Development Departments are already assessing the situation, the minister said, and a detailed inter-ministerial central team will be sent to Bihar shortly. That team will carry out a comprehensive assessment of damage across districts, with specific evaluations of crops, roads, bridges, houses and livestock. Adequate financial and material assistance will then be released in line with the State government's proposal.

Mr. Chouhan said he assured the people of Bihar, on behalf of the Central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that while the crisis was immense, the resolve to serve was greater. He said the Centre stood with the State government in navigating the crisis and that no affected family would be left without support.

The minister later held a review meeting at the Chief Minister's residence in Patna.