Patna: Heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Nepal has caused the Gandak River to swell, triggering widespread flooding across several districts of Bihar. After the Valmikinagar Barrage released a maximum of 5.43 lakh cusecs of water, the river’s water level rose sharply, inundating low-lying areas and forcing families to leave their homes.
In Bagaha, the Gandak recorded a new highest flood level of 91.25 metres, surpassing the previous record of 90.90 metres set in 2024 by 35 centimetres.
The flooding has affected low-lying areas of West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran, Muzaffarpur and Vaishali. According to the information provided, more than 20 lakh people across around 28 blocks have been affected. Nearly 5,000 houses have been surrounded by floodwater, while several families have taken shelter on embankments and other elevated locations.
Flooding has also disrupted education, with more than 25 schools reportedly closed. In East Champaran, two embankments in the Areraj block were breached, while four breaches were reported in West Champaran, allowing water to spread into nearby villages and residential areas.
The situation has left several families struggling to access their homes, food and essential supplies. Many are spending nights under plastic sheets provided by the administration.
East Champaran: Embankment breaches inundate villages
The flood situation worsened in East Champaran after two embankments were breached in the Areraj block on Tuesday. The rising Gandak also increased pressure on riverbank settlements in Kesariya, where several residential areas were inundated.
A sudden rise in the water level on Monday night left parts of Ward Nos. 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Dhekahan Panchayat and Ward Nos. 3, 9 and 10 of Kadhan Panchayat severely affected.
Around 2,000 houses were surrounded by floodwater, while water entered several homes. Residents said the situation deteriorated so quickly that many families had little time to collect their belongings before evacuating with children, women and elderly family members.
Several displaced families have taken shelter along the Champaran embankment, using plastic sheets to protect themselves from the weather.
Residents said the situation had been normal until Monday evening, but water began rising suddenly during the night. It spread through village lanes, roads and residential areas, disrupting movement and leaving families scrambling to reach safer locations.
Villagers, including Laxmi Devi, Sunil Devi and Yogendra Sahni of Dhekahan, said they were forced to leave their homes after water entered their houses. They managed to reach higher ground and spend the night there.
Residents allege negligence by flood control authorities
Congress district president Gappu Rai alleged that the authorities had failed to take adequate steps to protect the embankments and provide relief to affected residents.
Rai said he had visited several flood-affected areas and claimed that no effective measures were being taken to protect vulnerable sections of the embankments, including in Mishraniya Panchayat.
He alleged that timely repairs and reinforcement could have prevented some of the breaches. He also accused officials of the Water Resources Department of delaying the supply of sandbags needed to protect the embankments.
Rai claimed that residents were being asked to arrange materials without adequate official support and demanded accountability from the officials concerned.
Local resident Rajesh Kumar Yadav also alleged that authorities had failed to provide sandbags despite requests to protect the ring embankment. He said the breach had resulted in extensive flooding in the village, with water entering houses to depths of around five feet in some locations.
According to Yadav, residents were forced to leave their homes and move to safer places. He said the affected families were bearing the consequences of what they described as administrative negligence.
These allegations could not be independently verified.
Seven community kitchens ordered in affected panchayats
As floodwater disrupted road connectivity, boats became the primary means of transport in several areas. Residents were also attempting to move their livestock to safer locations.
On Tuesday, Chakia Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Shivani Shubham and Kesariya Block Development Officer (BDO) Kumud Kumar inspected the affected areas of Dhekahan and Kadhan panchayats and interacted with residents.
The SDO directed officials to immediately establish seven community kitchens—five in Dhekahan Panchayat and two in Kadhan Panchayat—to provide cooked meals to affected families.
Officials were also instructed to distribute plastic sheets and other essential relief materials. More than 10 boats were reportedly operating in the affected areas to assist with evacuation and transportation.
West Champaran: Four breaches reported in Champaran embankment
In West Champaran, the rising Gandak placed considerable pressure on the Champaran embankment, with breaches reported at four locations, increasing the risk of flooding in surrounding villages and low-lying areas.
At Khairtawa in Bagaha-1 block, a section of the embankment measuring around 12 metres gave way at approximately 8.30 pm on Monday following the development of a major crack.
Another breach was reported near Ward No. 5 of Phuliyakhand Panchayat in Bairia block, near Bettiah, at around 2 am on Tuesday. The embankment protects nearby residential and agricultural areas from the Gandak’s floodwaters. A road connecting Chakhni Rajwatiya to Ratwal, stretching approximately 14 km, also runs over this embankment.
A further breach occurred at around 5 pm on Tuesday in Golaghat Dumri Panchayat of Jogapatti block, where a section approximately 10 metres wide gave way.
The breach near Khairtawa has raised concerns for several surrounding villages and hamlets, including Pipariya, Singari Garhwa, Rajwatiya, Chakhni, Bargaon, Chhotkipatti, Ekderwa, Dumariya and Chautarwa.
Residents said floodwater continued to flow towards low-lying areas after the embankment gave way, raising concerns about the safety of homes, stored grain and livestock.
MP Pappu Yadav inspects breached embankment
On Tuesday, Purnia MP Pappu Yadav visited Bagaha and inspected the damaged Champaran embankment near Khairtawa.
He interacted with residents to understand the situation and assessed the flow of water through the breached section and the risks faced by nearby settlements.
Gopalganj: Flooding affects villages across several blocks
In Gopalganj, the rising Gandak has inundated roads and residential areas in several parts of the district. More than three dozen villages in Sadar, Kuchaykot, Manjha and Barauli blocks have reportedly been affected, while water has reached roads and houses in around 200 villages across the affected areas.
In Gopalganj Sadar block alone, around 5,000 families across 30 villages have reportedly been affected.
The administration has deployed boats and established community kitchens to assist residents. Two community kitchens have been opened in Sadar block, while nine boats have been arranged for relief and rescue operations. Four boats were provided by the administration and five by the local Sadar MLA.
Medical teams and relief arrangements are also being monitored in the affected areas.
District Magistrate Sameer Saurabh said embankments were being monitored continuously and alternative boat arrangements were being made to evacuate people stranded by floodwater.
Saran and Vaishali: Authorities monitor rising water levels
In Saran district, the Gandak’s water level at Parsa rose by around one foot on Monday. However, the river remained below the danger mark at the time of the reported assessment, and the situation in the diara region was described as normal.
Residents of Baligaon, Rasulपुर, Latahiya, Bahlolpur, Manki Manmal, Manki Mantal, Parsadi and Chak Jalauddin, among other villages, were keeping a close watch on the river’s water level.
The Saran administration increased embankment surveillance and patrolling across seven blocks along the river. Officials said the Gandak was carrying around three lakh cusecs of water, with the possibility of an additional 1.5 lakh cusecs prompting authorities to strengthen preparedness.
In Dariapur, preparations were made to assist around 500 people, with nearly 100 houses identified as potentially vulnerable. Authorities were also preparing to establish a community kitchen near the embankment if required.
In Vaishali, the Gandak’s rising water level prompted continued monitoring of the river and adjoining areas. However, the available reports did not indicate widespread flooding across the district at the time.
Muzaffarpur: Floodwater reaches homes in Sahebganj
In Muzaffarpur, the rising Gandak has affected several localities in Sahebganj block, particularly Wards 1 and 2 of Bangra Panchayat.
Local resident Kanhaiya Kumar said floodwater had reached the areas surrounding more than 100 houses. Roads leading to houses situated farther from the main settlement were reportedly submerged, cutting off access.
In some locations, water was reportedly eight to 10 feet deep, leaving boats as the only means of transportation.
Residents said the water level had continued to rise, with some areas witnessing an increase of around one metre in a single day. They feared that further increases could inundate additional houses.
With the river continuing to rise and multiple embankment breaches reported in East and West Champaran, residents in the affected districts remain concerned about the safety of their homes, access to essential supplies and the possibility of further flooding.
