Bihar police investigate death allegedly linked to helicopter-dropped relief packet

Police in Bihar are investigating the death of a 58-year-old man who villagers alleged was struck by relief material dropped from a helicopter in the flood-hit Saran district. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon near a relief camp in Parshurampur village, within the Amnour police station area. The deceased was identified as Anil Kumar Singh, a resident of the village.

Savindra Kumar Das, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer for Marhaura, said a relief-material packet dropped by a helicopter had allegedly hit the man on the head at about 3.30 p.m. He said the body had been sent for post-mortem and that police were investigating. Das said the exact cause of death could be determined only after the autopsy report was received.

Vimlesh Kumar, the station house officer at Amnour, also referred to villagers’ allegation that the packet caused the death. However, Kumar said no injury marks had been found on the man’s head or elsewhere on his body. The absence of visible injuries means the circumstances remain under investigation, and police have not established that the falling packet caused the death.

Kumar also described a separate incident involving a low-flying helicopter. He said the aircraft caused a tin shed to blow away and strike a woman on her leg. The woman sustained a minor injury and was treated at a medical facility, Kumar said.

She was reported to be well. The source material does not identify the organisation operating the helicopter or provide details of the relief distribution. The post-mortem and continuing police inquiry are expected to clarify the cause of Singh’s death.