The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on August 26.
 
THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its concern at the devastation caused by the severe flooding of the river Ganga in the state of Bihar. The PB expresses grief at the immense loss of lives and property. As of now 135 people have been killed and 35 lakh affected in 12 districts in the state.
 
The Polit Bureau urges upon the Bihar state government to organise the provision of immediate relief and adequate compensation for those who have lost virtually everything. There are widespread complaints about the woefully inadequate relief operations. The Polit Bureau calls upon the central government to provide all required assistance and to activate the National Disaster Management Authority to undertake relief and rehabilitation operations on a war footing.
 
The Polit Bureau also calls upon the central government to take long term measures including the desilting of the Ganga river which every year is causing floods and consequent damage. In the instant case, the damage could have been controlled had the release of water from the Bansagar dam been managed better.