Patna, Sept. 8 -- Around 2.9 million people have been affected by floods in Bihar as overflowing rivers inundated large swathes in 13 districts, according to the state's disaster management department (DMD). Chief minister Samrat Choudhary, accompanied by deputy chief minister and WRD minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary and deputy CM Bijendra Prasad Yadav, on Monday inspecting the relief operations in Vaishali and Saran areas. Officials said 190 community kitchens are being run in various flood-hit districts, while 1,429 boats have been deployed for relief and rescue operations. Choudhary, later in a social media post, said, "I stand with the people through every challenge and at every step. I visited flood-affected areas of Vaishali and Saran and inspected relief camps in Hajipur and Sonpur, where I interacted with residents, reviewed arrangements, served food and shared a meal with them." Financial assistance was provided to the disaster victims, while affected farmers will receive due compensation for crop losses, he said. Authorities have already sounded an alert in downstream areas of the Ganga after the river touched its highest flood mark at Gandhi Ghat and Hathidah in Patna....