More than 43 lakh people have been impacted by devastating floods across 14 districts in Bihar, as rivers including the Ganga flow perilously above the danger mark, officials reported on Thursday.
Incessant rainfall over numerous regions of the state, coupled with heavy precipitation in the catchment areas of Nepal, has caused rivers and streams to overflow their banks.
According to the state’s Disaster Management Department (DMD), approximately 43.64 lakh individuals in 527 gram panchayats across 85 blocks have been affected. The worst-affected districts include Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, and Buxar.
The state has recorded a significant 83.6 mm of rainfall in September so far, a staggering 24 percent above the norm, indicating a dramatic deviation from usual weather patterns.
As per the DMD’s latest bulletin, the Ganga at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur stood at 36.72 metres by 6 am on Thursday, surpassing the danger level by 2.22 metres. Fortunately, the flow of the river has remained stable.
Other rivers such as the Gandak at Dumriya Ghat, the Kosi at Baltara and Kursela, the Budhi Gandak at Khagaria, and the Ganga at Digha, Gandhi Ghat, Hathidah, Bhagalpur, Kahalgaon, and Munger are also flowing above their respective danger marks.
To aid the affected population, a total of 951 community kitchens currently operate in various districts, serving vital meals to those in need. Additionally, 15 relief camps are providing shelter and essential services, accommodating over 11,255 individuals.
In terms of provisions, around 2.57 lakh polythene sheets and approximately 40,600 dry-ration packets have been distributed. A fleet of 1,932 boats is functioning for evacuation and transportation while 6,692 quintals of cattle fodder have been made available.
The DMD confirmed that the Gandak Barrage recorded a discharge of 77,600 cusecs by 6 am Thursday, while the Kosi Barrage showed a significantly higher flow of 1,40,240 cusecs. The discharge at the Indrapuri Barrage on the Sone River registered at 72,095 cusecs.
To bolster relief and rescue initiatives, the government has deployed 27 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams alongside 10 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams across various impacted districts.
The weather office has predicted light to moderate rain across several areas, with forecasts of heavy rainfall affecting the state over the next two days. This situation necessitates continued vigilance as authorities strive to manage the crisis and provide support to the displaced.
