Patna, virtually, turned into an island for a few gloomy days in August 1975 when unprecedented floods submerged more than half the city. With both the Sone and the Ganga in high spate, the Bihar capital came to a standstill for over three days beginning August 24.

The civil airport was rendered inoperational due to the swirling waters of the Sone inundating its runway. Train services and telecommunications fared no better. In fact, in one case, passengers were stranded at Barauni due to a 230-metre breach in the track caused by floods on the Sonepur-Barauni section of the North-Eastern Railway.

Everybody - from the governor to the man on the street - was affected by the floods. Even high-profile structures such as Raj Bhavan, the chief minister's office, residence buildings of ministers, the secretariat, the state legislature complex, the high court, MLAs' flats, AIR transmission station etc. were all flooded.

All government offices, some banks, educational institutions and establishments were closed. Supply of both water and electricity was affected. In short, Patna was marooned. With hundreds losing their lives and livelihood in the floods, August, 1975, was indeed a black month for Patna in particular and Bihar in general.

To help rehabilitate the victims of Patna floods, The Times group set up a charitable trust called the Flood and Famine Relief Committee. Bennett, Coleman and Co. Ltd. launched the collection drive with an initial contribution. The TOIRF collection was distributed among various agencies known for their expertise in relief work.