PATNA, India: Nearly five million people have been affected by severe flooding in India’s eastern Bihar state, with 20 deaths reported as swollen rivers inundate homes and farmland, disrupt livelihoods and leave residents struggling for food and clean drinking water.
All seven rivers in Bihar were above their danger levels on Tuesday after heavy rain, according to the state Water Resources Department. The Bihar Disaster Management Department said nearly 5 million people across 15 districts had been affected.
Flooding began earlier this month after heavy rainfall in Bihar and in the catchment areas of rivers flowing from neighbouring Nepal. Bihar is one of India’s most flood-prone states and lies downstream from Nepal, which also suffered deadly flooding last month.
Residents in several districts said they were struggling to meet basic needs.
“We are helpless … we are struggling for food, safe drinking water and milk for children,” Chandan Kumar Mahto, a resident of Saran district, told AFP.
Lakhmania Devi, from Vaishali district, said her family had taken shelter on the roof of their home after floodwaters entered the house.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said essential supplies were being provided to affected families.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said $72 had been transferred to more than 827,000 flood-affected families.
Opposition slams central govt’s inadequate response
The floods have also triggered a political dispute over the central government’s response.
Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the opposition in Bihar, accused the federal government of failing to provide adequate assistance and alleged that more than 50 people had died and around 4.5 million had been affected.
Yadav also accused the federal government of responding more quickly to disasters in Gujarat, which is governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, than to the Bihar floods.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed concern over the loss of life and urged authorities to intensify rescue and relief operations. He called on Congress workers to assist affected communities.
Bihar recorded 112.7 millimetres of rainfall in September so far, about 6% above the normal level for the period, according to the local weather office.
Officials said continued rain and rising river levels were complicating rescue efforts. The government said Modi had sent a federal team to conduct a detailed assessment of the damage.
