BHOJPUR: Irrigation pipes have been distributed to flood-affected farmers in Bhojpur Municipality-5, Bokhim, to mitigate immediate irrigation challenges.

The ward office distributed the pipes free of charge to provide relief to local farmers who have been facing severe hardships after a flash flood triggered by continuous torrential rainfall damaged several irrigation canals on April 25, 2026.

According to the ward office, the flood severely damaged around 60 to 70 irrigation canal intake points across the Bokhim area.

The destruction of these canals made drawing water to fields extremely difficult, putting local farmers in a highly precarious position just as they were preparing for their regular agricultural activities. The lack of irrigation during the prime rice transplantation season was expected to directly impact agricultural output.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the ward office took immediate initiative to procure and distribute irrigation pipes worth approximately Rs 350,000 to the affected families, Ward Chairman Phabindra Pradhan informed. According to him, the distributed pipes will help bring the canals back into operation, providing a critical, albeit temporary, measure to sustain local livelihoods.

To gather an accurate assessment of the flood damage, the ward had formed a local-level monitoring committee. Ward Chairman Pradhan stated that the pipes were distributed by identifying genuinely affected farmers based on the report prepared after an extensive field inspection by the committee. He added that this rigorous process helped keep the distribution targeted and fully transparent.

Deepak Dangal, a local farmer, shared that the flood had completely washed away major portions of the canals, causing severe irrigation issues. “After the canals were destroyed, we couldn’t get a drop of water to our fields,” he said. “Our rice transplantation had come to a standstill. Receiving the pipes from the ward has now made it easier to fetch water temporarily.”

Local residents noted that this swift initiative by the local government has played a crucial role in tackling the crisis that arose after the natural disaster. However, they suggested that building permanent structures is highly necessary in the long run to strengthen the irrigation system against future climate events. The ward office has stated that it will continue to prioritize disaster management and preparedness programs, ensuring that future municipal plans remain fundamentally farmer-friendly.