Patna: The monsoon’s fury has intensified in Bihar as the Ganga river and its major tributaries surge, with water levels rising rapidly from Buxar to Bhagalpur. Heavy rainfall in Nepal and upstream states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand has led to a critical flood situation, prompting the Water Resources Department to issue a high alert.
The Ganga has already breached the danger mark at multiple points, causing widespread concern among local residents. In Patna, the situation is particularly alarming:
- At Maner, the Ganga is flowing at 52.03 meters, three centimeters above the danger level of 52 meters.
- The water level at Gandhi Ghat has risen to 49.15 meters, which is 55 centimeters above its danger mark of 48.60 meters.
- Further downstream at Hathidah, the river is flowing at 42.12 meters, 36 centimeters above the danger mark of 41.76 meters.
- Officials anticipate the Ganga to cross the danger mark in Buxar within the next 24 hours.
The rising trend is not limited to the state capital. The Ganga is also flowing above the danger level in Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon, with water levels continuing to rise.
Other major rivers are also in spate. The Son river is flowing at 52.30 meters, which is 30 centimeters above the danger mark of 52 meters in Maner, and the Punpun river has breached its danger level, flowing at 50.72 meters against a danger mark of 50.60 meters in Shripalpur, Patna.
Furthermore, the Kosi river is rising rapidly and has crossed its danger mark in Khagaria and at Birpur Barrage, with rising trends also observed in other parts of the state. Other rivers like the Gandak, Budhi Gandak, Kamla Balan, and Mahananda are also showing significant increases in their water levels.
The surge is a direct result of heavy, incessant rain. Over the last 24 hours, the following rainfall amounts were recorded in parts of the state:
- 102.4 mm in Lakhisarai
- 101.4 mm in Manpur
- 79.4 mm in Jamui
- 75.02 mm in Samastipur
- 71.8 mm in Hathidah
- 60.4 mm in Ekmighat
In response to the crisis, the Water Resources Department has stated that all embankments are currently safe and are being monitored around the clock to prevent any breaches. However, the continuous rise in water levels has put districts on high alert as authorities brace for a potentially severe flood situation.
