Heavy Monsoon Rains in Nepal Raise Flood Fears in North Bihar

Patna: Heavy monsoon rains in Nepal have escalated the threat of floods in North Bihar’s districts. Following the release of water from the Gandak Barrage, a significant surge in the river’s level has been observed. Amid these concerns, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conducted an aerial survey of the Gandak river’s water level, extending his inspection to the rising levels of rivers in West Champaran, East Champaran, and Gopalganj districts.

Water Resources Minister Vijay Choudhary provided an update on the flood situation in Bihar. He reported a critical rise in the Gandak river’s water levels, noting that water has been released from the Gandak Barrage for the first time since 2004. This release has resulted in water entering villages near the embankment, putting local communities at risk. Engineers and officers in Bihar are on high alert, ready to respond to any emergency.

Minister Choudhary highlighted that continuous rainfall in Nepal over the past several days has significantly raised water levels in rivers with catchment areas in Nepal. This increase is unprecedented in the last 15 to 20 years. The Gandak and Kosi rivers have seen substantial rises, prompting constant monitoring of embankments by officials. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conducted a review on Sunday and followed it with an aerial survey of the Gandak region on Monday. Officials remain engaged in ongoing surveillance.

During his inspection, CM Nitish, along with DMs, Principal Secretary to CM, Deepak Kumar, Development Commissioner Chaitanya Prasad, and ACS (Disaster Management) Pratyaya Amrit, landed at Balmiki Barrage to assess the situation firsthand. The administration has been actively working to relocate people who have settled on embankments, urging them to move to safer areas as flood risks increase. The district administration is continuing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of affected residents.