Bihar floods affect nearly 20 lakh people, Ganga breaches record level in Patna; downstream districts put on alert
Many low-lying neighbourhoods near the Ganga saw the river’s water breaching their houses. (Photo: X/@globalbrief_now)
New Delhi: Nearly 20 lakh people across 11 Bihar districts have been affected by floods as the Ganga rose above its previous highest recorded level at Gandhi Ghat in Patna, prompting authorities to place downstream areas on alert. The state government has ordered continuous surveillance of embankments, low-lying settlements and vulnerable stretches as the flood surge moves eastwards.
About 19.57 lakh people in 330 gram panchayats have been affected in Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar and Araria, according to officials. The scale of the disruption has increased sharply from an earlier assessment of 10.26 lakh people in 201 gram panchayats, indicating that inundation expanded rapidly over the weekend.
At 6am on Sunday, the Ganga stood at 50.57 metres at Patna’s Gandhi Ghat – five centimetres above the previous highest flood level of 50.52 metres recorded on August 21, 2016. Although the river was reported to be stable at the monitoring station, the breach of the historical mark underlined the risk facing riverside and low-lying neighbourhoods in Patna.
The “highest flood level” is the greatest water level previously observed at a particular gauge station and is distinct from the danger mark, which is the threshold at which flooding is expected to threaten people, property or infrastructure. Crossing a historical high does not automatically mean that every nearby locality will be submerged, but it can place embankments and drainage systems under pressures beyond those recorded during earlier floods.
At Pandarak in Patna district, the river reached 43.92 metres at 6am, exceeding by 19 centimetres the earlier record of 43.73 metres set on August 16, 2021. The water resources department warned that the Ganga at Hathidah could also surpass its previous highest level, with the impact expected to extend to subsequent monitoring stations over the next one to three days.
The forecast has led to heightened vigilance in Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur and Katihar, all of which lie downstream of the state capital along the Ganga’s eastward course. Engineers have been told to keep machinery and flood-control material ready, while field officials are monitoring embankments, erosion-prone stretches and habitations outside protected areas.
Bihar’s flood threat is not confined to the Ganga, with several rivers running above their danger levels at different locations. These include the Gandak at Dumariaghat and Hajipur, the Kosi at Baltara and Kursela, the Budhi Gandak at Khagaria, the Punpun at Sripalpur, the Bagmati at Benibad and the Ghaghra at Darauli.
Authorities have deployed 1,345 boats to evacuate residents and maintain access to communities cut off by floodwaters. Twenty-seven Bihar State Disaster Response Force teams and 10 National Disaster Response Force teams have also been positioned in affected districts for rescue and relief operations.
A total of 110 community kitchens are serving people in flood-hit areas, while local administrations have been instructed to ensure regular supplies of food, drinking water, medicines and other essentials. Officials have also been directed to regulate boat operations, prevent overloading and keep residents informed about changes in river levels.
The floods have begun affecting transport infrastructure, with the East Central Railway cancelling or diverting several services because of the alarmingly high water level around bridge number 21 between Punpun and Parsa Bazar on the Patna-Gaya section. Train movements will remain subject to safety inspections and changes in the water level around the affected structure.
Light to moderate rain is forecast at several places in Bihar over the next two days, with heavy showers possible in isolated areas, raising the prospect of further pressure on already swollen rivers. Bihar’s position downstream of large Himalayan catchments also means that rainfall outside the state, particularly in Nepal and adjoining regions, can influence river levels after a time lag.
Residents of vulnerable areas have been advised to stay away from riverbanks, follow evacuation instructions and avoid travelling through inundated stretches. The immediate challenge for the administration will be to sustain relief operations while closely tracking the flood crest as it passes through densely populated districts along the Ganga.
