Hajipur, Bihar: Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary carried out a field survey of flood-affected localities in Hajipur on Wednesday and pledged full support from the Central Government as authorities grapple with widespread damage to homes, crops and livelihoods.
Officials accompanying the two leaders said water levels in several locations had risen to about one foot higher than during the 2016 floods. The ministry assessment, cited by the visiting minister, placed the number of displaced people across Bihar at nearly 50 lakh (5 million). Local reports during the visit described villages and agricultural fields submerged for more than 10 consecutive days.
Crop and livelihood losses
During the visit to farming areas around Hajipur, the delegation saw extensive damage to standing crops. The minister said banana and maize plantations had been "ruined and completely destroyed" after prolonged submergence, and that farmers were reporting losses of livestock in addition to crop failure.
“They are saying that the water level was one foot higher than even the 2016 floods. We can see that the banana and maize crops here have been ruined and completely destroyed due to being submerged for more than 10 consecutive days... People had to abandon their homes—nearly 50 lakh people across Bihar,” Mr. Chouhan said.
Mr. Chouhan told reporters that he had been sent to Bihar on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to evaluate the situation firsthand. He said specialised teams from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Rural Development had already been deployed across affected districts to assess losses and advise on relief and rehabilitation measures.
Immediate relief and next steps
As an immediate relief measure, the state government has begun transferring ₹7,000 per family, the minister said. He added that the Central Government would support the state and that an additional inter-ministerial team at the Centre would soon visit Bihar to finalise assistance packages and share expertise on restoration of damaged infrastructure and livelihoods.
- Displaced persons: Nearly 50 lakh (5 million) across Bihar (as reported by visiting minister)
- Immediate cash relief: ₹7,000 per family being transferred by the state
- Main crop losses reported: Banana and maize; reports of livestock loss
- Central response: Specialised ministry teams deployed; inter-ministerial central team to visit
Practical implications for farmers and residents
Officials said prolonged inundation of fields will affect the current kharif harvest and may delay sowing of the next crop cycle where topsoil has been washed away or waterlogging remains. Local agriculture officers are expected to issue advisories on seed replacement, input subsidies and replanting schedules after the damage assessments are completed.
Relief authorities have also been asked to prioritise restoration of potable water supply, sanitation and temporary shelters to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases in low-lying villages. The visiting central and state teams are due to co-ordinate with district administrations to map the worst-affected panchayats and prepare lists of entitled households for compensation and rehabilitation.
What officials will review next
Officials said the follow-up central team will examine:
| Area of assessment | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Crop damage and input loss | Calculate compensation, seed/input subsidies, and replanting support |
| Housing and shelter damage | Determine cash assistance and shelter repair schemes |
| Livestock losses | Compile beneficiary list for livestock support and vaccination drives |
District administrations in affected areas have been instructed to fast-track damage verification and upload verified data to central portals to expedite release of funds under disaster relief arrangements.
The extent of agricultural and infrastructure loss will become clearer once on-ground assessments by central and state teams are completed. Meanwhile, local relief operations continue, with the focus on shelter, sanitation and restoring basic services in inundated panchayats.
Reporting from Hajipur and consolidating official statements from visiting teams. Further details on central aid packages and district-wise loss estimates are expected after the inter-ministerial assessment team completes its review.
