Bihar Floods: Over 34 Lakh Affected as Ganga Crosses Danger Mark at One Location
Water level at Sultanganj rises above its previous highest flood level as rescue teams, relief camps and community kitchens remain operational across the state
PATNA, Sept 8: The flood situation in Bihar worsened on Tuesday, with more than 34 lakh people affected across 13 districts after the Ganga crossed the flood mark at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur district, prompting authorities to issue alerts for downstream areas.
The Disaster Management Department said around 34.31 lakh people across 480 gram panchayats have been impacted by the floods in districts including Patna, Bhagalpur, Vaishali, Saran, Begusarai, Khagaria and Munger.
At Sultanganj, the Ganga recorded a water level of 36.80 metres at 8 am, surpassing the previous Highest Flood Level (HFL) of 36.75 metres recorded on August 17, 2021. Officials said the situation at the site remained stable, even as the rising water prompted increased vigilance downstream.
In a separate incident, a small boat carrying 10 people capsized in the flood-hit Kharik Raghopur area of Bhagalpur on Tuesday morning. SDRF personnel rescued everyone aboard, officials said.
Several Rivers Above Danger Levels
The flood situation has been aggravated by rising water levels in several major rivers. The Gandak, Kosi, Budhi Gandak, Ganga, Punpun, Bagmati and Ghaghra are flowing above danger levels at various locations.
The Gandak has crossed the danger mark at Dumriaghat and Hajipur, while the Kosi is above the threshold at Baltara and Kursela. The Budhi Gandak is also flowing above the danger level at Khagaria.
Along the Ganga, elevated water levels have been recorded at Digha, Gandhi Ghat, Hathidah, Bhagalpur, Kahalgaon and Munger.
Bihar has also received above normal rainfall this month. The Bihar Meteorological Service Centre recorded 79.6 mm of rainfall in September so far, 31 per cent higher than normal.
Relief Operations Intensified
The state government has expanded relief measures in the affected districts. As many as 432 community kitchens are providing meals to flood-hit residents, while 14 relief camps are offering accommodation, food, medical assistance and other essential services.
Authorities have distributed approximately 1.29 lakh polythene sheets and 22,900 dry ration packets among affected families.
A total of 1,832 boats are being used for evacuation and transportation. The administration has also distributed around 3,142 quintals of animal fodder to help protect livestock in inundated areas.
Barrage Discharges Under Watch
Officials are closely monitoring water releases from major barrages.
The Gandak Barrage recorded a discharge of 1,04,400 cusecs at 10 am on Tuesday, with the trend remaining stable. Its highest discharge so far this year was 2,24,000 cusecs on July 14.
The Kosi Barrage recorded a discharge of 1,69,985 cusecs, with levels showing a declining trend. The highest discharge recorded there this year was 2,55,425 cusecs on July 20.
For emergency response and evacuation, 27 SDRF teams and 10 NDRF teams have been deployed across various districts.
Authorities continue to monitor river levels and rainfall patterns while coordinating rescue, evacuation and relief operations in the worst-affected areas.
