CPI(ML) held protest demonstrations in all districts of Bihar on September 18-19, 2026 against governmental apathy towards lakhs of flood affected people in more than a dozen districts. The party reiterated its demands of immediate and adequate relief for flood victims including food, medicines, shelter and safety, distribution of one quintal of foodgrains and Rs. 10,000 to the affected families, reconstruction of damaged houses under the Chief Minister’s Housing Scheme, an ex-gratia of Rs. 25,000 per acre to sharecropper farmers, compensation of Rs. 10 lakh to the dependants of those who died in the floods, and repair of roads, bridges and other infrastructure damaged by the floods.
The party has asked the Government to release complete data on deaths, injuries and damage to property of flood victims in Bihar. The flood situation in Bihar has become alarming with nearly 50 lakh people in 15 districts directly affected. Water has inundated homes in many areas, thousands of families have been displaced and crops have been extensively destroyed. But the government’s indifference toward providing adequate relief and rescue continues despite repeated requests by the party.
CPI(ML) MP Sudama Prasad said adequate and transparent figures of deaths caused by the floods are not being made public. CPI(ML) has collected figures of deaths through its network in the flood-affected areas of Bhojpur, Bhagalpur and rural Patna, which reveal the seriousness of the situation. In Bhojpur district, at least 24 people have died due to the floods, but the number could be higher. In Bhagalpur district, CPI(ML) activists have reported about 10 deaths. In Punpun block of Patna 10 people have died.
In Bhagalpur, district administration has reported 456 villages are completely or partially affected by the floods, impacting a population of 9.15 lakh in 2.10 lakh households. Crops of maize, paddy and vegetables cultivated across thousands of acres have been destroyed.
The flood victims urgently need food, drinking water, medicines, animal fodder, boats and safe shelter. However, in many areas, relief operations are not reaching people in proportion to the need. Even where relief operations are taking place, complaints of irregularities and loot in the distribution of relief materials are continuously being received. During a serious disaster such as a flood, the government and administration should conduct relief operations on a war footing, but on the ground, a large population is still waiting for assistance.
CPI(ML) has demanded an immediate survey of destroyed crops and damaged homes and in view of the possibility of diseases and epidemics after the floodwaters recede, special health camps should be organised in the affected areas.
CPI(ML) Bihar State Secretary Kunal has strongly condemned fanfare and celebrations done for Prime Minister Modi’s birthday when the entire state is going through a deep crisis and mourning, with fifty lakh people affected, many lost their lives, and a large number of families rendered homeless and waiting for relief and assistance, and at such a time the BJP’s lighting lamps in the name of the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ is an act of insensitivity. Sadly, the instructions for such celebrations have been issued at the government level which is extremely concerning and shameful.
The government says it lacks funds for relief operations and providing compensation, but at the same time money is being spent in the name of Modi’s birthday. The government has issued instructions up to BLOs who have been ordered to light a lamp at every booth. When the entire Bihar is mourning in the floods, what is the BJP lighting lamps for? Bihar instead needs more sensitivity, proper and adequate relief and concrete government action, he said.
