Receding Water Levels Bring Relief, But Bihar Remains on High Alert for Riverbank Erosion

Patna: Receding water levels across all major rivers in North Bihar have brought some relief, but officials remain on high alert due to the risk of erosion in downstream areas. Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Bihar’s Water Resources Minister, explained that the unprecedented water flow, which broke previous records, was the result of 60 hours of continuous rainfall in Nepal earlier this week.

The Kosi river, for the first time, rose above the Veerpur Barrage, and other rivers in the region swelled to historic highs. Despite swift action by department officials, embankments on the Bagmati and Kosi rivers gave way, leading to significant flooding in Betrasand (Sitamarhi), Aurai (Muzaffarpur), and Kiratpur (Darbhanga).

With the immediate danger subsiding, Chaudhary emphasised that vigilance is still necessary, as the risk of erosion downstream remains a serious concern.