Monsoon Engulfs Bihar: Heavy Rains and Rising Rivers Trigger Flood Alerts

Patna: The monsoon season is in full swing across Bihar, bringing widespread rain and concerns over flooding. On Tuesday morning, the capital Patna and other regions including Nalanda, Madhepura, Begusarai, Bagaha, Sitamarhi, Motihari, and Raxaul experienced significant rainfall. Cloudy skies have prevailed since the morning, setting the stage for further downpours.

The Patna Meteorological Center has forecasted substantial rainfall over the next two to three days, urging residents to exercise caution. A rain alert has been issued for 32 districts, with heavy rain anticipated in six districts and light rain in the remaining 26. The persistent rains have caused the Gandak, Bagmati, and Kosi rivers to rise above the red mark, signaling potential flood risks.

In response to the increased water levels, all 69 gates of the Indrapuri Barrage have been opened, releasing 514,000 cusecs of water on Monday morning. An additional 13,000 cusecs have been diverted into canals, resulting in water entering approximately 50 houses in the Tilothu block of Rohtas. Floodwaters have affected about 30 homes in Saraiya Panchayat and 20 in Tilothu East, with reports of 40 cattle missing.

The coastal areas along the Son and Koel rivers in Jharkhand are also experiencing heavy rains, leading to swelling rivers. Local authorities are using loudspeakers to urge residents to move to safer locations and have banned fishing in the Son river, warning of legal action against violators.

In Patna, the Ganga river’s water level has risen by 12 cm in the past 24 hours at Gandhi Ghat, currently standing one meter below the danger mark. The Son river at Maner has seen a 21 cm increase, while the Punpun river at Shripalpur Ghat has surged by 58 cm.

Bhagalpur has also observed a rise in the Ganga’s water level, with a 15 cm increase over the last two days, bringing many ghats, including Sultanganj, to just 2 cm below the danger mark.

In Nalanda, the Lokain river’s water level has risen due to continuous rain in Jharkhand over the past week. The fast-flowing water has caused a 20-foot breach near Dhuri Bigha village, which is currently being repaired. The breach has led to flooded fields and the encirclement of a dozen villages, although the situation remains under control for now.