Patna: CM Samrat Choudhary on Tuesday said Bihar had received less than 30% of its rainfall so far this year but was facing severe floods due to heavy downpours in bordering states and neighbouring Nepal.Speaking at a relief distribution programme, Samrat transferred Rs 579 crore through direct benefit transfer to the bank accounts of 8.27 lakh flood-affected families across 15 districts. Each eligible family received Rs 7,000. He said the govt would ensure no affected household entitled to aid was left out.Samrat said water levels in the Ganga, Sone and Gandak rose sharply after heavy rain in neighbouring Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, along with continuous rain in the catchment areas of rivers originating in Nepal and flowing into Bihar. Bihar had received less than 30% of rainfall so far this year, he said.He directed district magistrates of affected districts to prepare detailed, fact-based damage reports ahead of the Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led central team’s visit on Wednesday. The assessment should document the actual condition in flood-hit areas and be kept ready for review.He instructed officials to prioritise relief, recovery and reconstruction, ensuring rebuilding followed the theme “Build Back Better Than Before”. Reconstruction and road repairs should be accelerated and completed within a month, before Durga Puja, he said.Samrat said the state govt stood with flood-affected people and would not allow shortcomings in relief or rescue operations. Nearly 50 lakh people have been affected across 15 districts, 88 blocks, 575 gram panchayats, 2,642 villages and 136 wards in 21 urban bodies. About 55,000 hectares have been inundated, causing crop damage.He said relief and rescue operations were being conducted rapidly and ordered complete transparency in beneficiary identification and verification. Any eligible family yet to receive assistance must be added to the relief list within a week for payment, he said.
