Bihar floods: CM Samrat Choudhary transfers ₹112.14 crore to 1.60 lakh families
Synopsis
With 55 lakh people hit by floods across Bihar, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary moved swiftly on 12 October, pushing ₹112.14 crore directly into the bank accounts of 1.60 lakh families. A farm subsidy transfer is lined up for 14 October — and officials have been told to finish infrastructure repairs before Diwali.
Key Takeaways
Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary transferred ₹112.14 crore in flood relief to 1.60 lakh families on 12 October 2026 via DBT.
Each beneficiary received an ex gratia of ₹7,000 directly to their bank account.
An agricultural input subsidy for flood-hit farmers is scheduled to be disbursed by 14 October .
Approximately 55 lakh people across Bihar have been affected by flooding in the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati and Kamla Balan rivers.
Districts including Bhagalpur, Patna, Munger, Bhojpur and Buxar continue to face Ganga erosion; multi-storey houses in Naugachia have reportedly been swept away.
Officials have been directed to complete flood-damaged infrastructure repairs before Diwali .
The Bihar government on Monday, 12 October disbursed ₹112.14 crore in direct financial relief to 1.60 lakh flood-affected families across the state, as Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary personally transferred an ex gratia amount of ₹7,000 each to beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The disbursal was carried out at a programme held at the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Patna.
Relief Disbursal and Next Steps
At the event, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary directed all District Magistrates (DMs) to promptly submit details of flood-affected families who are yet to receive the assistance, ensuring no eligible beneficiary is left out. He further announced that an agricultural input subsidy for farmers whose crops were damaged by floods would be transferred directly to their accounts by 14 October.
The Chief Minister also set a firm deadline for infrastructure restoration, instructing officials to complete repairs to flood-damaged roads and other essential infrastructure before Diwali.
Scale of the Flood Disaster
The flooding, triggered by swelling in the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati and Kamla Balan rivers, has reportedly affected approximately 55 lakh people across Bihar — one of the most widespread flood impacts in the state in recent memory. Homes, standing crops, and property have sustained heavy damage across multiple districts.
The worst-affected districts include Bhagalpur, Patna, Munger, Bhojpur and Buxar, where Ganga riverbank erosion continues despite a gradual decline in water levels. In Naugachia, several multi-storey structures have reportedly been swept into the river due to severe erosion.
Erosion Spreads Across Multiple River Basins
Beyond the Ganga basin, significant soil erosion has been reported along the Gandak, Bagmati, Kosi, Burhi Gandak and Kamla Balan river systems. Districts including West Champaran, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga and Madhubani are among those grappling with the aftermath.
This comes amid a broader pattern of annual flooding in the Ganga-Brahmaputra plains, where Bihar — with its network of rivers descending from Nepal — remains among the most flood-prone states in India year after year.
Government's Rehabilitation Push
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has stressed the urgency of accelerating relief and rehabilitation to restore normalcy in affected areas. Priority has been given to repairing damaged roads, restoring essential services, and ensuring timely delivery of aid. The government has indicated it aims to complete restoration work within the stipulated timeline while continuing to extend financial relief to eligible families.
Point of View
000 ex gratia is a floor, not a solution — for families who have lost homes to Ganga erosion in Naugachia or standing crops in Darbhanga, this disbursal barely covers a week's disruption. The more consequential signal is the 14 October agricultural subsidy transfer: if it reaches farmers before the rabi sowing window closes, it could prevent a secondary economic hit beyond the flood itself. Bihar's annual flood cycle also raises a structural question that this relief package does not address — with 55 lakh people affected in a single season across the same river basins year after year, the state's disaster response machinery remains reactive rather than resilient.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much flood relief has the Bihar government disbursed and to how many families?
The Bihar government disbursed ₹112.14 crore to 1.60 lakh flood-affected families on 12 October 2026, with each beneficiary receiving ₹7,000 directly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
When will Bihar farmers receive the agricultural input subsidy for flood-damaged crops?
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced that the agricultural input subsidy for farmers whose crops were damaged by floods would be transferred to their accounts by 14 October 2026.
How many people have been affected by the 2026 Bihar floods?
Approximately 55 lakh people across Bihar have been affected by flooding in the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati, and Kamla Balan rivers, with damage to homes, crops, and property reported across multiple districts.
Which Bihar districts have been worst affected by floods and erosion?
Bhagalpur, Patna, Munger, Bhojpur, and Buxar have been heavily impacted by Ganga erosion, while West Champaran, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, and Madhubani are affected by erosion along the Gandak, Bagmati, Kosi, Burhi Gandak, and Kamla Balan basins. In Naugachia, multi-storey houses have reportedly been swept into the Ganga.
What has CM Samrat Choudhary instructed officials to do next?
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary directed District Magistrates to immediately submit details of families yet to receive flood relief, instructed officials to prioritise road and infrastructure repairs before Diwali, and called for accelerated rehabilitation to restore normalcy in flood-hit areas.
