Patna: The Gandak River recorded its highest-ever water level of 91.25 metres at Bagaha, surpassing its previous record, as heavy water discharge put significant pressure on embankments in West Champaran and other downstream districts.
The Champaran embankment on the left bank of the Gandak was damaged at two locations in West Champaran during the intervening night of September 28 and 29.
Two Locations Damaged In West Champaran
According to the Water Resources Department, the damaged points are at Khairatwa village in Bagaha-1 block and Phuliakhad village in Bairia block.
The high flow has created pressure on embankments at several locations, with seepage, piping and overtopping reported at some points.
The department said that 169 seepage and piping points have already been addressed through immediate repair work.
An embankment on the right bank of the Gandak was also damaged at one location in Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh.
Teams from the Water Resources Department and the West Champaran district administration are carrying out necessary measures at the affected locations.
Four Teams Sent To Bagaha, Bettiah, Motihari And Gopalganj
Given the seriousness of the situation, the Water Resources Department sent four teams led by executive engineers to Bagaha, Bettiah, Motihari and Gopalganj during the night.
Regional engineers are also engaged in flood-control and embankment protection work, while senior officials are continuously monitoring the situation.
Additional engineers had already been deployed at vulnerable locations in view of the unusually high water discharge.
According to the department, the water level is showing a declining trend upstream but continues to rise downstream, requiring close monitoring.
Gandak Barrage Records Heavy Discharge
The high water level followed heavy rainfall in the Gandak River basin in Nepal, where substantial rainfall was recorded over a short period.
At 6 am on September 28, the Gandak Barrage at Valmikinagar recorded a discharge of 5,43,500 cusecs.
The water is currently moving through downstream areas of West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran, Muzaffarpur and Vaishali.
More Than 4 Lakh Cusecs For 32 Hours
The discharge at Valmikinagar remained above 5 lakh cusecs for around 13 hours and above 4 lakh cusecs for around 32 hours.
Heavy rainfall was also recorded between September 26 and 27 in the Bihar districts bordering the Gandak River, particularly West Champaran, East Champaran and Gopalganj.
The rainfall contributed to an already elevated water level in the downstream sections of the Gandak.
Bagaha Water Level Surpasses 2024 Record
Although the maximum discharge at Valmikinagar this time was lower than the 5,62,500 cusecs recorded in 2024, the Gandak reached a higher water level at the Bagaha gauge site.
The river reached 91.25 metres at Bagaha, surpassing the previous highest level of 90.90 metres recorded in 2024 by 0.35 metres.
The record water level has increased pressure on embankments, prompting intensified monitoring and repair efforts across the affected areas.
