More than 43 lakh people have been affected by floods in 14 districts of Bihar, officials said on Thursday, as several rivers—including the Ganga—flowed above their danger levels.
The Disaster Management Department (DMD) reported that 43.64 lakh residents in 527 gram panchayats across 85 blocks were impacted. The worst-hit districts were Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai and Buxar. Incessant rainfall in the state, combined with heavy downpours in Nepal’s catchment areas, caused rivers and streams to overflow.
September’s rainfall in Bihar reached 83.6 mm, 24 % above normal. At 6 am on Thursday, the Ganga at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur measured 36.72 metres, 2.22 metres above the danger mark, though the flow remained stable. The Gandak was above danger at Dumriya Ghat, the Kosi at Baltara and Kursela, Budhi Gandak at Khagaria, and the Ganga at Digha, Gandhi Ghat, Hathidah, Bhagalpur, Kahalgaon and Munger.
Relief efforts include 951 community kitchens and 15 relief camps providing accommodation, food, medical care and other services to 11,255 people. Authorities have distributed 2.57 lakh polythene sheets, 40,600 dry‑ration packets, 1,932 evacuation boats and 6,692 quintals of cattle fodder. The Gandak Barrage discharged 77,600 cusecs, the Kosi Barrage 140,240 cusecs and the Sone’s Indrapuri Barrage 72,095 cusecs. Twenty‑seven State Disaster Response Force teams and ten National Disaster Response Force teams have been deployed, while the weather office forecasts light to moderate rain at some places and heavy rainfall in the state over the next two days.
