Church Groups Mobilize Flood Relief for Remote Communities in India’s Bihar State

Catholic religious congregations, institutions and lay groups in Bihar have joined efforts to provide relief to communities affected by severe flooding following a major Himalayan flood event in late August.

The initiative was launched September 7 at St. Xavier’s B.Ed. College in Patna, the capital of Bihar state in eastern India, after a meeting of Catholic faithful held in consultation with Archbishop Sebastian Kallupura of Patna.

The flooding followed an ice and rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, sending large volumes of water and debris into the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems. The Trishuli joins the Narayani River, which enters Bihar as the Gandak, one of the major rivers flowing through the state.

Bihar, a largely low-lying state downstream from the Himalayas, is particularly vulnerable to flooding when rivers carry large volumes of water and sediment. Several communities, particularly in remote areas, have faced damage to homes and livelihoods and difficulties accessing food, drinking water and health services.

At the September 7 meeting, participants observed a minute of silence for people affected by the flooding in Nepal and by other disasters.

Fr. Luis Prakash, SJ, who works among migrants and marginalized communities, joined other Jesuit priests in coordinating the relief initiative.

“We do not have any funding, but goodwill shall take us far,” Fr. Prakash said.

Representatives of religious congregations, educational and health institutions and lay organizations discussed the situation and planned a three-phase response, beginning with immediate assistance to families most severely affected and those in areas where relief had been limited.

An initial appeal sought basic supplies, including biscuits, soap, jaggery, salt, sattu, a roasted gram flour commonly consumed in the region, and water-purification tablets.

Religious congregations, schools, colleges, hospitals, lay organizations and individuals responded by contributing supplies according to their capacity.

As donations arrived, students, staff, trainees, religious formation groups, and men and women religious from Patna and surrounding areas helped sort and pack the materials.

The relief packages were then transported to severely affected and remote villages, with priority given to families who had limited access to assistance.

Catholic health facilities, including Holy Family Hospital Kurji and Tripolia Hospital in Patna, are preparing medical camps as floodwaters recede and health needs emerge among affected communities.

The organizers said the response has brought together different Catholic institutions and communities in a coordinated effort to assist people affected by the floods.

The initiative comes during the Season of Creation, whose 2026 theme focuses on “Living Water.” The organizers said the experience has highlighted both the importance of water as a source of life and the vulnerability of communities living in flood-prone areas.

The relief campaign continues as Catholic groups in Bihar seek to support affected families through food supplies, essential materials and medical assistance.