PATNA, Sept. 17 -- Amid mounting political pressure and widespread devastation from the floods, a team led by Union agriculture and farmers' welfare minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday began a two-day assessment of the damage, touring inundated villages alongside state chief minister Samrat Choudhary. The visit, ordered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comes as the state is grappling with a dual crisis of floods in several districts triggered by swollen rivers and upstream discharge, alongside drought-like conditions in many others due to acute rainfall paucity. Official data shows Bihar has recorded a 36 per cent rainfall deficit from June 1 to September 16, with only 577.3 mm against the normal 899.4 mm. Districts that received significantly lesser rainfall include Sheohar (61 per cent deficit), Sitamarhi (58 per cent), Jehanabad (57 per cent), Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur (52 per cent each), and Saran and Bhagalpur (around 50 per cent each). Around 26 districts have faced deficient rains overall, with long dry spells hitting southern-western, northern and eastern parts particularly hard, while nearly 4.7-5 million people across 15 districts have been affected by the deluge. Chouhan and Choudhary began with an aerial survey of flood-hit stretches in Maner (Patna) and Dighwara (Saran). They later inspected ground conditions in Terasia and Saraipur villages of Raghopur block in Vaishali, RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav's home constituency, travelling by boat and tractor through waterlogged fields to examine submerged banana and maize crops, damaged houses and roads, and speak with affected villagers seeking compensation and stronger embankments. Chouhan described the flooding as among the most severe in years, with water levels exceeding those of 2016 by about a foot, and assured that the Centre would provide every possible assistance. The programme will cover additional districts including Munger and Bhagalpur. Choudhary, who thanked the PM for dispatching the Central team, said the state government has already begun releasing an interim grant of Rs.7,000 per affected family. Full compensation for farmers and other victims will be paid according to rules once assessment is complete, he said, adding the government is focused on relief....