Patna, Sep 29 (IANS) Amid the worsening flood situation in Bihar’s West Champaran district, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vinay Bihari on Tuesday staged a sit-in protest at the district Collectorate, alleging that flood-affected people were not receiving adequate relief supplies and basic amenities.
The Lauria MLA arrived at the Collectorate premises and sat on a gamchha spread on the ground, demanding immediate administrative intervention to ensure timely distribution of relief materials to affected families.
His protest comes as large parts of West Champaran continue to grapple with severe flooding caused by the swelling Gandak River.
The district has witnessed a sharp rise in water levels in recent days, with reports of embankment breaches and inundation in several villages and low-lying areas. Thousands of residents have been affected as floodwaters entered habitations, disrupting normal life and damaging crops and property.
Expressing concern, Bihari alleged that the scale of relief arrangements was inadequate compared to the gravity of the crisis. He demanded that the administration immediately supply sufficient quantities of polythene sheets, food grains, drinking water and other essential materials to flood-hit families.
According to the BJP legislator, while relief supplies had reached a few affected pockets, several villages were still struggling with shortages of necessities. He said many flood victims continued to wait for assistance and compensation despite suffering significant losses due to the floods.
Bihari also called for greater administrative attention to the affected regions and urged authorities to intensify relief and rescue operations. He had earlier announced his intention to stage a protest, claiming that people in Lauria and Yogapatti were not receiving adequate government support.
During the demonstration, the MLA used a poetic verse to express his frustration over the situation.
“There is sorrow, there is pain; I am sighing and waiting for the arrival of my ‘King’, with Shri Hari above and Samrat Choudhary here on earth,” he said.
Demanding direct political intervention, Bihari urged Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to visit the flood-affected areas personally and assess the situation on the ground.
He declared that he would continue his protest until the Chief Minister reached the region and reviewed the relief operations.
The BJP MLA also claimed that he had waited for nearly four hours to meet senior district officials, including the District Magistrate, but was unable to do so. Following the unsuccessful attempt, he began his sit-in inside the Collectorate complex.
After learning about the protest, Bettiah Deputy Development Commissioner Kajale Vaibhav Nitin met the MLA and held discussions with him. However, Bihari remained firm on his demand, insisting that only a visit by the Chief Minister would satisfy the concerns of flood-affected residents.
He said he would remain at the protest site and added that even if the Chief Minister’s helicopter flew overhead, he would pick up his gamchha and leave only after his demand was addressed.
The protest has drawn attention to growing concerns over relief distribution and rehabilitation measures in West Champaran, where fresh flooding triggered by the Gandak River continues to affect vulnerable communities.
Local reports have also highlighted difficulties in accessing relief facilities in some of the worst-hit areas.
–IANS
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