Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary conducts aerial survey of Gandak flood-affected areas

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on August 27, 2026 conducted an aerial survey of the Gandak river from Sonepur to Valmikinagar to assess the situation in border and potentially flood-affected areas of Bihar in view of the flash floods in Nepal.

The flood situation, possible impact and administrative preparedness were reviewed in Bagaha, Valmikinagar, Bettiah and Motihari. After landing at Valmikinagar, the Chief Minister inspected the Valmikinagar barrage and reviewed the water discharge situation upstream and downstream of the barrage. At the time of inspection, the discharge was around 1.06 lakh cusecs.

The Chief Minister also inspected the control room at the barrage and sought updated information from Water Resources Department officials on the water level and discharge of the Gandak river. Officials informed him that at 11pm on August 26, the Gandak's water level had reached a peak discharge of 1,50,200 cusecs, after which a continuous decline was recorded. However, a fresh rise in the river's water level was being observed in the Devghat area due to delayed rainfall.

At present, no adverse impact has been observed on the embankments. The department is continuously monitoring the situation. The Chief Minister also sought an update from the West Champaran District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police on the prevailing situation and reviewed administrative preparations concerning possible impacts, precautionary measures, security arrangements, and relief and rescue operations.

He directed the officials concerned to work with full alertness, maintain continuous vigil in vulnerable areas and take immediate action whenever necessary. The Chief Minister said the safety of citizens and providing them with every possible assistance during a flood situation was the state government's highest priority. All concerned departments and district administrations must remain fully alert and prepared to deal with any possible situation.

The water level of the Ganga river is showing a decreasing trend. However, a marginal rise of 1-2 centimetres may occur at some locations. In view of this, the Water Resources Department and district administrations have been directed to maintain continuous monitoring.

During the inspection, Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Chief Minister's Principal Secretary Deepak Kumar, Chief Secretary Pratyay Amrit, Chief Minister's Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, Water Resources Department Secretary Dr Chandrashekhar Singh and other senior officials were present.

All photographs: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary Inaugurates Three Schemes to Empower Girls and Women on Raksha Bandhan

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister (CM) Samrat Choudhary on August 26, 2026 inaugurated three major initiatives aimed at strengthening the safety, education, empowerment and self-reliance of the state’s daughters and sisters on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. At a programme held at Gyan Bhawan in Patna, Samrat Choudhary inaugurated and flagged off 4,700 two-wheelers for women police personnel deployed under Police Didi (Abhaya Brigade). Women police personnel of the Abhaya Brigade also tied a rakhi on the Chief Minister on the occasion.

The Chief Minister said the occasion further strengthened the government’s commitment to the safety and dignity of girls and women.

While inaugurating the 4,700 scooters and motorcycles for the Police Didi (Abhaya Brigade), Samrat Choudhary said the vehicles would help women police personnel ensure the safety and protection of school and college-going girls and carry out other women-safety-related duties more effectively.

He said Bihar had around 40,000 women police personnel, adding that no other state in the country had such a large number of women in its police force.

The Chief Minister said several important schemes concerning women were being launched on Wednesday. “The increasing participation of women is a reflection of a prosperous Bihar,” he said. The government’s aim was to ensure that women in Bihar used their talent and abilities to help change the state’s future and played a significant role in building a prosperous Bihar.

On the occasion, Samrat Choudhary also launched the Chief Minister’s Girl Child PhD Fellowship. Under the scheme, around 1,000 female students will receive financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per month for four years.

He said providing better opportunities for higher education and research to girls was a priority for the government.

The Chief Minister also launched the Bihar Ki Beti Startup Challenge Scheme. Under the initiative, women entrepreneurs will receive financial assistance ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh to take forward their innovations and businesses. Around 2,100 women will benefit from the scheme, which is expected to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and self-reliance among girls and women.

Samrat Choudhary said women associated with Jeevika were currently contributing Rs 1.36 lakh crore to Bihar’s economy. Around 43 lakh Jeevika women have become Lakhpati Didis, he said. He added that the government aimed to turn another one crore Jeevika women into Lakhpati Didis in the coming years.

Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Higher Education and Law Minister Sanjay Singh Tiger, Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari, Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Deepak Kumar, Home Department Principal Secretary Pankaj Kumar, Director General of Police Vinay Kumar, Education Department Secretary Rajiv Roushan, Chief Minister’s Secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, ADG (Law and Weaker Sections) K.S. Anupam, District Magistrate Kundan Kumar and Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya K. Sharma, along with other officials from the Home, Higher Education and Education departments and a large number of Police Didis, were present on the occasion.

All Photographs: Aftab Alam Siddiqui

Bihar CM Pushes for Transparent, Tech-Driven RERA to Strengthen Homebuyer Protection

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Saturday (August 1, 2026) reviewed the functioning of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) at the Sankalp auditorium in Lok Sevak Awas, emphasising the need to improve ease of doing business in the real estate sector while ensuring robust protection for homebuyers.

During the review meeting, RERA Chairman Vivek Kumar Singh presented a detailed overview of the authority's institutional framework and operational procedures. He said the regulator's processes had been streamlined to make them simpler and more transparent, and noted that its institutional framework was among the best in the country

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui