Patna: The Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government is set to launch a comprehensive survey of the Gandak river following devastating floods that caused an estimated loss of Rs 512 crore last year. The survey, spanning approximately 225 kilometres from Valmikinagar near the Nepal border to Sonpur, where the river meets the Ganges, will be conducted by the state’s Water Resources Department.
Officials said the action plan is being drafted to assess the river’s flow pattern, current conditions, and the state of embankments and other infrastructure. The move comes in the wake of unprecedented flooding in 2024, when the river discharged 5.62 lakh cusecs of water—its highest level in over two decades—causing extensive damage to embankments and riverbank structures across more than 118 km.
“The embankment breach and the sheer pressure on the Valmikinagar barrage highlighted the need for urgent structural reassessment,” a department official said.
The river’s rising bed due to silt accumulation has been identified as a major cause behind the increasing flood vulnerability. Officials noted that even moderate water levels now lead to overbank flooding, affecting adjoining farmlands and villages. The survey will form the basis for a new strategy to reinforce embankments, clear silt, and improve flood management infrastructure.
This will be the first major survey of the Gandak since 2020. The government plans to use the findings to implement long-term flood mitigation measures and minimise future economic losses.
In parallel, the state is also training over 22,000 youth as disaster response volunteers to assist during floods, droughts, and earthquakes. These measures are part of Bihar’s broader disaster resilience strategy, which includes a pledge to make the state flood-free within five years.
