Bihar Floods Expose Administration's Ineptness

The fifth straight day of heavy rains in Bihar has left the Nitish Kumar government reeling from ill-preparedness and lack of critical necessities. The teams deployed in rescue operations are proving to be inadequate and people are making arrangements on their own to save their lives. 

The rains battering Bihar since the last five days have exposed the lacunae in the Nitish Kumar government’s state of readiness. The drainage system in capital Patna has failed and water has entered the homes of MLAs and ministers.

On Monday, a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) promptly went to rescue deputy CM Sushil Modi but the common people are forced to make arrangements to save their lives on their own. Some are perched atop handcarts while others have started walking in knee-deep waters.

Schools and colleges are closed in Patna but examinations for jobs have not been postponed. The unemployed in Bihar-Jharkhand are going to give exams for DRDO entry in these floods.

The water-level in areas like Kankarbagh, Rajendra Nagar and Patna City is till the chest. The state government has arranged for the use of tractor trolleys to rescue people stranded in these areas. Usually, JCB machines of Patna Municipal Corporation are used to clear garbage but due to the unavailability of boats, these machines are now being used to rescue people.

Black marketing of gas cylinders has also begun in the city.

In the midst of all this lack of preparedness, BJP leader and Union Minister Ashwini Choubey has blamed the ‘Hathia Nakshatra’ for the heavy rainfall.