More than 43 lakh people have faced hardships due to severe flooding across 14 districts in Bihar, as officials reported on Thursday. Rivers, including the Ganga, now flow well above the danger mark due to incessant rainfall.
Continuous rainfall in numerous regions of the state and heavy downpours in Nepal’s catchment areas have led to overflowing rivers and streams, prompting concern among residents and authorities alike. The Disaster Management Department (DMD) confirms that as of the latest updates, approximately 43.64 lakh individuals living in 527 gram panchayats across 85 blocks have been significantly affected.
Districts hardest hit by the flooding include Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, and Buxar, which have seen widespread damage and displacement. The state has experienced 83.6 mm of rainfall in September, exceeding the norm by 24 percent, as per reports from the weather office.
According to the DMD’s latest bulletin, the Ganga at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur recorded a height of 36.72 meters at 6 AM on Thursday, surpassing the danger level by 2.22 meters. Fortunately, this particular flow appears stable at the moment.
Additional rivers, including the Gandak, Kosi, and Budhi Gandak, also exceeded safety thresholds at various checkpoints, leading to heightened vigilance among local authorities. Notably, the Gandak was above the danger mark at Dumriya Ghat, while the Kosi faced similar issues at both Baltara and Kursela areas.
In response to the disaster, authorities have set up 951 community kitchens across the affected districts to serve flood-affected individuals. In addition, 15 relief camps provide shelter, food, medical assistance, and various other necessities to around 11,255 people displaced by the floods.
The distribution of essential items has commenced, with around 2.57 lakh polythene sheets and over 40,600 dry ration packets given to those in need. The government deployed 1,932 boats for evacuation and transportation, and 6,692 quintals of cattle fodder have also been made available.
For efficient relief and rescue operations, a combined force of 27 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams and 10 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams has been assigned to various locations experiencing the worst of the floods.
Looking ahead, the weather office predicts light to moderate rain in some areas, coupled with heavier rainfall across the state over the next two days. As recovery efforts intensify, residents remain on high alert and continue to face uncertain conditions in the aftermath of this calamity.
