Patna: The NASA Earth Observatory has documented record water levels along the Gandak River and widespread flooding in parts of Bihar following heavy rainfall in Nepal, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said on October 3.
Chaudhary was referring to a NASA Earth Observatory report titled “Rains Swamp the Gandak River”, published on October 2. The report examined the river’s rising water levels in Nepal and India and the resulting spread of floodwaters.
According to the report, heavy rainfall affected Nepal’s mountainous Lumbini and Gandaki provinces between September 24 and 27. The rainfall triggered landslides and caused the Gandak, known as the Narayani in Nepal, to reach record levels in parts of Nepal and India.
Satellite Images Show Flood Extent
NASA compared satellite images captured on September 20 and September 29 to assess the extent of flooding. The images showed floodwaters spreading across areas surrounding the river.
Chaudhary said the data provides scientific evidence of the scale of inundation and helps distinguish the recent flooding from normal seasonal river behaviour.
Record Level At Devghat
The NASA report recorded a water level of 11.94 metres at Devghat in Nepal on September 27. According to the report, this was the highest level recorded at the location since measurements began in the 1960s.
New record-high water levels were also reported at several locations along the Gandak in India, including Bagaha, Dumariaghat, Rewa Ghat and Lalganj.
Impact Across Bihar
The Deputy Chief Minister said the unusually high flow resulted from excessive rainfall in the Gandak’s upper catchment area in Nepal rather than normal seasonal conditions.
The resulting rise in river levels contributed to waterlogging and flooding in parts of West Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran and Muzaffarpur districts. In some locations, water reportedly flowed over embankments, while breaches were also reported.
Government Monitoring Relief Operations
Chaudhary said the Bihar government was continuing to monitor the flood situation and prioritising relief and rescue operations in affected areas.
He added that satellite observations and other scientific data were helping authorities assess the extent of flooding and understand the exceptional river conditions.
