Helicopter-delivered flood aid strikes man, kills him in Bihar's Saran district
A food packet dropped from an Indian Air Force helicopter hit 62-year-old hawker Anil Kumar Singh in Parshurampur, killing him instantly, while a woman and two children were injured nearby.
In the flood-hit region of Saran district, an Indian Air Force helicopter was distributing relief packets when a 5-kilogram bundle landed on the head of 62-year-old hawker Anil Kumar Singh, killing him on the spot. The incident occurred in Parshurampur village of Amnour block, where residents have been sheltering on embankments after their homes were flooded. Police officer Vimlesh Kumar reported that Singh was about to collect the aid when the packet fell.
A separate mishap in the same village injured Vimla Devi, 45, and her two children as the helicopter’s downwash destabilised them on a rooftop. The trio was admitted to Chhapra Sadar Hospital. Authorities said a post-mortem will determine the precise cause of Singh’s death, while the incident has raised concerns about the safety of aerial relief drops.
Why it matters
The tragedy highlights safety risks in aerial disaster relief efforts affecting vulnerable flood-hit communities.
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