The Bihar government on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, disbursed ₹579.23 crore in flood relief directly to 8,27,472 affected families across the state, with Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary personally overseeing the transfer of ₹7,000 per family through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The payout is the latest in a series of relief measures as floods continue to batter 15 districts of Bihar, affecting an estimated 49.46 lakh people.

Scale of the Flood Crisis

According to government data, 575 Gram Panchayats across 88 blocks have been inundated this season, with the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, and Punpun rivers among the primary contributors to the crisis. The 15 affected districts are Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Purnea, Madhepura, and Arwal.

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary was also present at the disbursement programme. The Disaster Management Department had compiled beneficiary lists based on field reports submitted by Circle Officers from the flood-hit districts, ensuring the relief reached verified households.

Ground-Level Relief Operations

Beyond the cash transfer, the state government is running 1,260 community kitchens in affected areas — recently scaled up from 1,257 — through which approximately 1.19 crore meals have been served to flood-displaced residents so far. In parallel, 13 relief camps — down from 15 as some areas see receding waters — are currently sheltering 11,060 people, with arrangements for accommodation, food, medical care, and other essential services.

Relief for livestock is also underway. According to state figures, 13,121 quintals of cattle feed have been distributed across flood-affected regions — an acknowledgement that agrarian livelihoods, heavily dependent on livestock, are equally imperilled.

River Levels and Ongoing Risk

Data from the Central Water Commission and the Meteorological Department indicate that the water level of the Ganga is receding at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur. However, several rivers remain above the danger mark. Elevated levels have been recorded in the Kosi at Baltara and Kursela; the Burhi Gandak at Khagaria; the Ganga at Digha Ghat, Gandhi Ghat, and Hathidah in Patna, as well as at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur and in Munger; the Bagmati at Benibad; the Punpun at Sripalpur; and the Ghaghara at Darauli.

District administrations are maintaining close surveillance of river levels, and the state has signalled it will sustain both financial and humanitarian relief until the threat fully subsides.

Context and What Comes Next

Bihar's annual flooding pattern — driven by Himalayan river systems and monsoon runoff — has long placed the state among India's most flood-vulnerable regions. The DBT mechanism, used here for rapid mass disbursement, reflects a shift toward direct cash transfers over in-kind distribution, which has historically suffered from leakages and delays. Notably, with several rivers still above danger levels, the affected population count and financial outlay could rise further before the monsoon season concludes.