In approximately half a dozen villages within Katihar's Pranpur block, situated about 32 kilometers from Katihar city and bordering West Bengal, a unique and poignant 'tradition' unfolds every monsoon. During the months of Sawan and Bhado, as the Mahananda River swells and flood risks escalate, new brides and pregnant women are sent to their parental homes or relatives' houses. They typically return only after Dussehra, once the flood threat has subsided.

Villages including Basta, English, and Lalganj are annually inundated by floods. When water levels rise, these villages lose connectivity to the main road, leaving boats as the sole mode of transport. In such circumstances, pregnant women, the elderly, and critically ill individuals are preemptively moved to safer locations.

Local women, including Babita Devi, Julie Devi, Roma Devi, Kusum Devi, Dhanwanti Devi, and Sulochana Devi, explained that floods make it difficult to reach hospitals, markets, and perform other essential tasks each year. Fearing a lack of timely medical attention in emergencies, families send new brides and pregnant women to their maternal homes. They emphasized that this is not a tradition but a compulsion driven by their circumstances.

Jitendra Kumar, a resident of English village, stated that until a permanent solution to the region's flood problem is found, this annual departure of daughters-in-law and daughters will continue. Villagers lament enduring this hardship for years without any lasting resolution. They have appealed to the state government and district administration to implement effective measures for permanent flood relief, hoping to end this 'tradition' born out of necessity.