The Chief Minister's Office of Bihar announced on Friday, 29 May 2026 that Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has directed the Agriculture Department and the Disaster Management Department to immediately conduct surveys of crop and fruit-tree damage caused by severe storms, rain, and hailstorms across multiple districts of the state.

The official post stated: 'तेज आंधी, वर्षा एवं ओलावृष्टि के कारण राज्य के विभिन्न जिलों में किसानों की फसलों तथा वृक्षों पर लगे फलों को हुई क्षति को गंभीरता से लेते हुए' — meaning, 'Taking seriously the damage caused to farmers' crops and fruits on trees in various districts of the state due to strong storms, rain, and hailstorms,' the Chief Minister has ordered an immediate survey.

Context

Bihar is one of India's most agriculture-dependent states, with a large rural population whose livelihoods are closely tied to seasonal harvests. Pre-monsoon squalls and unseasonal hailstorms in the months leading up to the kharif sowing season are a recurring hazard in the eastern Gangetic plains, often striking when standing crops and orchard fruits are at a vulnerable stage.

The directive from CM Samrat Chaudhary follows what the CMO described as significant damage across 'various districts' of the state, underscoring the geographic spread of the weather event.

Policy Backdrop

Bihar has established administrative protocols for responding to weather-induced agricultural losses. Surveys conducted jointly by the Agriculture Department and the Disaster Management Department form the first step in determining eligibility for relief under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) framework.

Once a survey is completed and damage is quantified, the state government can issue orders for ex-gratia payments to affected farmers or facilitate claims under crop insurance schemes. These procedures are part of the state's broader calamity relief norms that have been activated on multiple occasions following hailstorms and unseasonal rain events in recent years.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary stakeholders are Bihar's farming communities, particularly those cultivating standing crops and maintaining orchards of mango, litchi, and other fruits that are typically at harvest-readiness in late May. Damage at this stage of the agricultural calendar can translate directly into income loss for smallholder and marginal farmers.

The Agriculture Department and Disaster Management Department are now tasked with rapid field-level assessment across the affected districts. The speed and coverage of this survey will determine how quickly relief can be channelled to verified victims.

What's Next

The immediate next step is the completion of the joint survey ordered by CM Samrat Chaudhary. Officials from both departments are expected to mobilise field teams across the affected districts to document the extent of crop and fruit damage.

The survey report will be the basis for any subsequent government orders on compensation, ex-gratia assistance, or insurance claim facilitation. Farmers and civil society groups in Bihar will be watching closely to see whether the assessment translates into timely, on-the-ground relief before the onset of the full monsoon season.