Flood victims protest against local MPs and MLAs at relief camp as Gandak River breaches previous record high at Bagaha
Patna, Sept 2026 : Tension prevailed in Bihar’s flood-hit West Champaran district on Tuesday when residents protested against local elected representatives during Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s visit to assess the flood situation and ongoing relief operations.
Choudhary visited the affected areas to take stock of the situation and review rescue and relief arrangements. He first conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit regions before reaching a relief camp established at the PM SHRI Government Plus-2 High School in Bathna under Bairia block.
During his interaction with flood victims at the camp, several residents began raising slogans against local MPs and MLAs. The protesters also voiced dissatisfaction with the relief arrangements and questioned the role of elected representatives in responding to the crisis.
As the situation became increasingly tense, security personnel stepped up arrangements around the Chief Minister. Amid the growing unrest, Choudhary eventually left the relief camp.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of a deteriorating flood situation in several parts of West Champaran. Rising water levels in the Gandak River have affected low-lying areas, disrupted normal life and increased pressure on the district administration and rescue agencies.
According to local reports, tensions escalated further after Choudhary left the school premises. BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal and the local Narkatiaganj MLA remained inside the school campus for some time amid heightened security concerns.
Police later attempted to escort Jaiswal to his vehicle. However, a group of agitated residents reportedly surrounded the vehicle and staged a protest. Some individuals allegedly threw cow dung at the vehicle and struck it with their hands, further escalating the situation.
Police personnel eventually managed to escort the MP away from the area under tight security.
Meanwhile, the flood situation in West Champaran has intensified following a sharp rise in the Gandak River. The river reached an all-time high of 91.25 metres at the Bagaha gauge, exceeding the previous peak of 90.90 metres recorded in 2024 by 0.35 metres.
The unprecedented rise in the river level has increased pressure on embankments and inundated several low-lying areas, posing additional challenges for relief and rescue teams.
The administration has continued relief and rescue operations in the affected areas and is monitoring vulnerable locations amid the rising water levels. Officials are also focusing on the safety of residents and coordinating measures for evacuation, relief distribution and rehabilitation as the flood situation remains challenging across parts of the district.
