Deluge threat looms over Bihar as rivers swell after Nepal flash floods

Parts of Bihar faced the threat of a deluge as water levels in the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi and Burhi Gandak rivers showed a rising trend following the devastating flash floods in neighbouring Nepal.

The Nepal floods were triggered after an ice-rock landslide blocked a river near the country's border with China. The floods have affected several districts and left at least 826 people missing, according to Nepal's disaster management authorities.

This has led to both Uttar Pradesh and Bihar administrations stepping up monitoring of their river systems downstream of the rivers of the Himalayan nation.

"The water levels of several rivers, including the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi and Burhi Gandak, have been rising following continuous rainfall in their catchment areas in Nepal.

"The rivers have touched or crossed the danger level at several places in the bordering districts," a senior official of the Water Resources Department said.

According to the department's bulletin on Friday, the Gandak, Kosi, Ganga, Burhi Gandak and Ghaghra rivers were flowing above the danger mark at many places in the state and have touched warning levels in some places.

The Gandak river has breached the danger mark in Gopalganj, while the Kosi and Burhi Gandak have touched the danger level in Khagaria, Katihar and Kursela.

The Ganga was flowing above the danger mark at Digha, Hathidah and Gandhighat in Patna and Kahlgaon in Bhagalpur, said the bulletin. Ghaghra river was flowing above the danger mark in Darauli in Siwan district.