Tejashwi Yadav Writes to PM Modi, Demands ₹5,000 Crore for Bihar Flood Relief
The Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the severe flood crisis in the state. In his two-page letter, written on Monday, September 7, 2026, Mr. Yadav urged the Prime Minister to immediately visit Bihar, declare the devastating floods a "national disaster," and release an immediate financial assistance package of ₹5,000 crore alongside necessary humanitarian aid.
Mr. Yadav, who also serves as the National Working President of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), stated that Bihar is currently facing a severe tragedy, with at least 20 districts affected by the floods and thousands of citizens trapped. He noted that rising water levels in various rivers have caused extensive damage to public infrastructure, resulting in the loss of lives and property worth thousands of crores of rupees.
Inadequate Relief and Resource Diversion Alleged
According to the opposition leader, a large portion of the state's population is currently struggling to access basic necessities, including food, clean drinking water, medicines, electricity, cattle fodder, and safe transportation. He criticized the relief efforts currently being managed by the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar.
"The flood relief and rescue measures being provided by the NDA government in Bihar—the country’s poorest and most backward state—are woefully inadequate, akin to a drop in the ocean," Mr. Yadav wrote in his letter. He further alleged that the state government, along with NDA Union Ministers and Members of Parliament elected from Bihar, have appeared helpless and incompetent in securing a national disaster declaration or a special relief package from the Central Government.
Mr. Yadav also raised concerns over the financial management of the state's disaster funds. He alleged that the financially strained Bihar government has remained indifferent to the plight of flood victims. He claimed that instead of utilizing disaster relief funds strictly for their designated purposes, the state's contingency fund and other financial resources were diverted this year to cover routine government expenses, leading to a severe shortage of funds for active relief operations.
Demands for Military Deployment and Audits
To address the immediate crisis, the RJD leader urged the Central Government to deploy additional boats and resources to areas that have been cut off from road connectivity. He specifically demanded the deployment of Indian Army and Air Force helicopters to assist with rescue and relief operations in the worst-hit regions.
Additionally, Mr. Yadav called for guaranteed arrangements for food, drinking water, medicines, animal fodder, and temporary shelter, alongside special financial assistance for affected farmers, labourers, livestock owners, and families. He also demanded an independent review or a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of Bihar's financial and disaster management preparedness, focusing on the transactions and utilization of the State Contingency Fund.
Call for a Long-Term Flood Resilience Mission
Beyond immediate relief, Mr. Yadav argued that the recurring flood situation in Bihar is not merely a natural disaster but also the result of years of persistent failure in response, mitigation, and adaptation strategies within disaster management. He noted that despite floods occurring annually, no significant work has been done to establish a permanent solution.
To address this, he proposed the launch of a long-term "Flood Resilience Mission." According to Mr. Yadav, this mission should encompass river and embankment management, drainage systems, the rejuvenation of local water bodies, modern flood forecasting, and effective water management policies and treaties with neighbouring countries, including Nepal and Bangladesh.
Concluding his letter, Mr. Yadav emphasized that the immediate priority must be to save lives, stating that the distressed citizens of Bihar require concrete relief and accountability rather than politics. He urged the Central Government to avoid any discriminatory treatment toward Bihar and to treat the crisis as a humanitarian and national responsibility, ensuring that the state government's financial constraints do not hinder ongoing rescue operations.
