Bihar on High Alert as Heavy Rains and Flood Risk Escalate: Red Alert Issued for 5 Districts

Patna: The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in five districts of Bihar, including West Champaran, East Champaran, Araria, Kishanganj, and Gopalganj. Meanwhile, a yellow alert has been declared for seven other districts, warning of moderate to heavy rain. The situation is further exacerbated by ongoing heavy rains in the Terai regions of Nepal and adjoining areas in Bihar, leading to the possibility of severe flooding.

The discharge of water from the Gandak and Kosi rivers is expected to reach 5 to 6 lakh cusecs by Saturday, increasing the risk of flash floods in 13 districts, including Patna. In light of this, the Disaster Management Department has issued a flash flood warning, urging local authorities to stay on high alert and prepare for potential emergencies. The next 24 hours are considered crucial for these districts, and necessary arrangements are being made to handle any crisis.

The water discharge from the Gandak river in Bagaha crossed 1.6 lakh cusecs by Friday evening, with projections indicating it could reach 5.5 lakh cusecs by Saturday afternoon. A flood alert has already been issued for low-lying areas in the region.

The continuous rainfall has already started flooding roads and residential areas in Bagaha, with images surfacing showing submerged streets near the Valmiki Tiger Reserve. Similar conditions are being reported in Raxaul, where two days of heavy rain have flooded homes and even entered a local bank.

According to officials, the current flow of water in the Kosi river is the highest in 56 years. On Friday night, nearly 6.81 lakh cusecs of water were released from the Kosi Barrage, just 1 lakh cusecs below the highest recorded flow in 1968. This has raised concerns of significant flooding in districts such as Supaul, Saharsa, Madhubani, and Darbhanga.

In response, Supaul District Magistrate (DM) Kaushal Kumar has issued a high alert, advising residents living near the Kosi embankments to evacuate immediately. SDMs from Nirmali, Veerpur, and Supaul are patrolling the eastern and western embankments to monitor the situation closely.

The Water Resources Department has directed engineers to camp in sensitive areas near the Kosi and Gandak rivers for the next 48 hours. A letter from the Disaster Management Department has instructed District Magistrates of 13 affected districts—including Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, and Patna—to be prepared for relief and rescue operations.

In Supaul, flood-like conditions have emerged, with water entering the Nirmali police station, disrupting daily activities and causing severe inconvenience to officers stationed there. Cooking has become difficult as the gas stoves and cylinders have been submerged in water.

Meanwhile, in Bhagalpur, a bridge near Mustafapur collapsed due to the strong flow of the Ganges, cutting off a critical route between Pirpainti and Bakharpur. Fewer people were traveling on the bridge when it collapsed, avoiding a major accident. The incident has affected approximately one lakh people living in the Diara area, as they now face significant transportation challenges.