KATIHAR, BIHAR — Health department teams in Bihar are using boat ambulances to reach residents in flood-affected parts of Katihar, providing medicines and basic medical assistance directly to communities that remain surrounded by floodwater.
The relief effort comes as water levels in the Ganga, Kosi, Barandi and Kari Kosi rivers continue to affect several parts of the district. According to the district administration, around 8,80,140 people in Katihar have been affected by the floods, while a number of villages located close to riverbanks remain inundated.
With many residents continuing to stay in affected areas, health workers have adopted a boat-based outreach approach so that medical support can reach people who may find it difficult, or may be unwilling, to leave their homes during the flooding.
Severe Flooding Increases Need for Medical Outreach
Barari Medical Officer-in-Charge Dr Md Musharraf Hussain said the riverside area on the other side of the embankment extends across several villages and experiences flooding every year. However, he described the situation this year as particularly severe, with several homes submerged.
The continuing presence of residents in these flood-hit locations has made direct medical outreach important. Instead of relying only on conventional health facilities, medical teams are taking essential medicines by boat and visiting households to assess health concerns.
Boat Ambulances Carry Medicines to Flood-Hit Villages
Health teams have arranged boat ambulances stocked with medicines to travel into affected areas. The service is intended to provide timely assistance to residents who remain in their homes despite rising water levels and difficult travel conditions.
During these visits, medical personnel have reported complaints including itching, fungal infections, fever and cough. Medicines were distributed to residents based on the health issues encountered by the teams during their field visits.
The boat ambulance initiative also allows health workers to identify people who may require further medical attention. In flood situations, such door-to-door access can be particularly important for households that cannot easily reach a health centre.
Regular Visits Planned Across Affected Areas
Officials said boat ambulance visits are being conducted regularly across flood-affected areas of Katihar. The objective is to ensure that people living in inundated locations, especially those unable or unwilling to move to safer areas, continue to receive medical attention and essential medicines.
The district administration said relief and monitoring activities remain underway. Health teams and other departments are coordinating their efforts to respond to the needs of the affected population while floodwaters continue to impact parts of the district.
Health Support Remains a Key Priority During the Floods
Flooding can create additional health risks for communities living in waterlogged surroundings, making access to medicines and basic healthcare an important part of relief operations. The boat ambulance effort in Katihar is providing a direct link between medical teams and residents who are still living in affected villages.
As relief operations continue, regular medical visits are expected to remain important for monitoring health complaints and ensuring that essential treatment reaches people in areas where normal movement has been disrupted by floodwater.
