Northern Bihar is facing severe flood with a heavy downpour in 12 of its districts. The death toll rose to 86 as of Wednesday. Most affected areas got inundated, displacing around 4.68 lakh people and forcing many to hunt rats for food.

As the situation worsened, locals in Dangi Tola village of Katihar district, home to around 300 families, claimed that they lost all their food grain and are left with no option but to eat rats. These families have made their temporary settlement on higher ground where the rats too are flocking to save their lives.

Speaking to ANI, Talla Murmur, a local, said, “We have to eat rats as our house has been destroyed by the flood. There are no arrangements for us. The government has given no facility to us. We are dependent on rats only to fill our stomachs. All my family members eat rats as they are easy to find in the floods.”

“I have come here to catch a mouse with my grandfather as we don’t have anything else to eat,” said Murmur’s grandson Vijendra.

Block Development Officer (BDO) of Kadwa constituency, Rakesh Kumar Gupta said they are not aware that people are eating rats.

“We have no information regarding the condition of the villagers in the flood-affected areas. Even if they are eating rats, maybe it is likely that the tribal people might be eating it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the local MLA Shakeel Ahmad Khan has written a letter to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, requesting him to provide assistance to the people.

Deaths have been reported from Araria, Madhubani, Purnea, Kishanganj, Supaul, Sheohar, Darbhanga.

Extend your helping hand to the people of Bihar, Click here to donate for flood relief to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. 

Also Read: Assam Floods: At Least 11 Dead and 26 Lakh Affected Across 28 Districts