Bihar Floods: Ganga Crosses Record Level In Patna, Over 22 Lakh People Affected Across 12 Districts
More than 22 lakh people across 12 districts of Bihar have been affected by floods after heavy rain in the state and neighbouring Jharkhand caused rivers to overflow, with authorities sounding an alert after the Ganga crossed its previous highest flood level in Patna on Sunday. The East Central Railway cancelled and diverted some trains because of the alarmingly high water level at a bridge…
Over 22 lakh individuals have been impacted by floods across 12 districts in Bihar after heavy rainfall in the state and neighboring Jharkhand led to overflowing rivers, prompting authorities to issue a flood alert. The Ganges River surpassed its highest flood level in Patna on Sunday, reaching 50.57 meters at 6 am, a 0.05-meter increase over its previous record set on August 21.
Several other rivers, such as the Gandak, Kosi, Budhi Gandak, Punpun, Bagmati, and Ghaghra, also exceeded their danger marks. Bihar has experienced 69.1 mm of rainfall so far in September, 55% above average, following intense rain in the region and neighboring Jharkhand.
To address the crisis, 190 community kitchens have been established to cater to the needs of flood-affected people, while 1,429 boats have been deployed for evacuation purposes. Additionally, 27 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams and 10 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to assist in affected districts.
The Water Resources Department has advised heightened vigilance in areas like Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, and Katihar due to the potential for the Ganges at Hathidah to breach its previous highest flood level. Residents have been cautioned against approaching rivers and urged to remain vigilant, with local administrations tasked with monitoring boat operations and ensuring public safety.
The weather office has forecast light to moderate rain at various locations across Bihar over the next two days, with the possibility of heavy rainfall in some areas. This forecast, combined with ongoing concerns over rising river levels, has prompted authorities to remain alert for further increases in water levels downstream. Opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), have called for the floods to be declared a national disaster, with Tejashwi Yadav, national working president of the RJD, highlighting the extensive impact across 19 districts and the loss of thousands of crore worth of property.
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