Bihar is grappling with a major flood crisis as record amounts of water are being released from major barrages, triggering widespread inundation across the state. The situation has been declared a high alert, with the Bihar government taking urgent steps to mitigate the impact.
Following heavy rains in the catchment area over the last three days, rivers in north and central Bihar have been overflowing, affecting an estimated 13.5 lakh people across 13 districts. The water levels have been steadily rising due to the release of water from the Valmikinagar and Birpur barrages.
On Saturday, a staggering 5.38 lakh cusecs of water was released from the Valmikinagar Barrage, marking the highest discharge in 21 years, since 2004. Similarly, the Birpur Barrage on the Kosi River witnessed a record discharge of 5.79 lakh cusecs, the highest in 56 years since 1969. This unprecedented release of water has exacerbated the flood situation, inundating low-lying areas and disrupting daily life in several districts.
The flood situation has been further compounded by heavy rains in Nepal. According to the state Water Resources Department (WRD), incessant rainfall in the catchment areas of Nepal has led to a significant increase in water discharge in major rivers like Gandak, Koshi, Mahananda, and others. This influx of water has pushed the river levels above the danger mark at several places in the bordering districts.
The affected districts include West and East Champaran, Gopalganj, Araria, Supaul, Katihar, Purnea, and several others. The excess river water has inundated low-lying areas, submerging homes, roads, and agricultural land. The situation has forced the closure of schools in East Champaran until September 29, amid the possibility of more heavy rains.
To manage the flood situation, the authorities have implemented emergency control measures. The WRD is closely monitoring embankments round the clock, while rescue teams, consisting of engineers and other personnel, have been deployed to assist affected communities. As a precautionary measure, vehicular movement has been halted near the Kosi barrage.
The flood situation has also impacted transportation, with visuals showing water flooding railway tracks in Araria district, disrupting train operations. All 56 sluice gates of the Kosi barrage in Supaul have been opened to ease the pressure on the river.
As the flood situation continues to escalate, authorities are working tirelessly to provide assistance to the affected population and minimize the damage caused by the rising waters.
