Patna, Sep 2026 : As severe floods continue to wreak havoc across several parts of Bihar, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate central intervention, including the declaration of the situation as a national disaster and financial assistance of Rs 5,000 crore for relief and rehabilitation.
The RJD leader said the floods had affected 20 districts, leaving lakhs of people struggling with rising water levels, damaged infrastructure and disrupted road and transport connectivity. According to Yadav, the crisis has caused extensive damage to lives, property and public infrastructure, while severely affecting access to essential services.
In his letter, Yadav said flood-hit residents were facing difficulties in obtaining basic necessities such as food, safe drinking water, medicines, electricity, cattle fodder and safe transportation. He urged the Centre to treat the situation as an urgent humanitarian crisis and ensure that adequate relief reaches affected communities without delay.
Yadav criticised the relief and rescue arrangements being undertaken by the Bihar government and the NDA-led Centre, alleging that the assistance provided so far was inadequate considering the scale of the disaster. He also accused the Bihar government and NDA leaders from Bihar of failing to secure sufficient central support and a formal national-disaster declaration despite the worsening situation.
The RJD leader argued that Bihar's recurring floods cannot be viewed only as a natural calamity, saying the severity of the crisis also reflects years of inadequate preparedness, mitigation and adaptation measures. He pointed out that floods affect the state almost every year, yet a permanent and comprehensive solution has remained elusive.
Yadav also questioned the state's financial preparedness to deal with the disaster. He alleged that Bihar's Contingency Fund and other financial resources had been diverted towards routine government expenditure, potentially leaving inadequate funds for emergency flood relief.
Seeking greater accountability, Yadav called for an independent review or a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of the state's disaster-management preparedness, as well as the utilisation and transactions of the State Contingency Fund.
Among his immediate demands, Yadav urged the Prime Minister and the Centre to declare the devastating floods a national disaster and provide Rs 5,000 crore in immediate financial assistance along with a special flood-relief package. He also sought the deployment of additional boats and other rescue resources in areas where road connectivity has been disrupted.
The RJD leader further called for the Army and Air Force to be deployed wherever necessary for rescue and relief operations, including the use of helicopters to evacuate stranded residents and deliver essential supplies.
Yadav urged the government to ensure adequate stocks of food, drinking water, medicines, animal fodder and temporary shelters in affected areas. He also sought special financial assistance for farmers, labourers, livestock owners and families whose livelihoods and property have been affected by the floods.
Looking beyond the immediate crisis, Yadav proposed the creation of a comprehensive long-term ‘Flood Resilience Mission’ for Bihar. He said such a programme should focus on river and embankment management, improved drainage systems, rejuvenation of water bodies, modern flood forecasting mechanisms and more effective water-management policies.
He also called for stronger cooperation and formal water-management arrangements with Nepal, Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries, citing the cross-border nature of river systems affecting Bihar.
Highlighting the state's geographical vulnerability, Yadav claimed that nearly 76 per cent of Bihar's land area is prone to flooding, with the vulnerable zone expanding further during periods of heavy rainfall and rising river levels.
Yadav said the immediate priority must remain saving lives and providing relief to those trapped or displaced by the floods. “The people of Bihar are in distress; they require concrete relief and accountability, not politics,” he said.
He also appealed to Prime Minister Modi to visit Bihar at the earliest and provide every possible form of humanitarian, financial and logistical assistance to the flood-affected population.
