Bihar floods affect 19 lakh, Ganga rises in Patna

Over 19 lakh people across 11 districts of Bihar have been affected by floods, with authorities sounding an alert in downstream areas after the water level of the Ganga crossed a crucial flood mark at Gandhi Ghat in Patna, officials said on Sunday.

Hathidah and subsequent gauge stations in the state capital are likely to be impacted over the next one to three days, as the Ganga’s water level topped the ‘highest flood level’ (HFL) at Gandhi Ghat in Patna following heavy rain, they said.

Due to the rise in water levels of various rivers in the state, around 19.57 lakh people in 330 gram panchayats across 11 districts – Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar and Araria – have been affected, the officials said.

According to the latest advisory issued by the Water Resources Department (WRD), the level of the Ganga at Hathidah may also cross its previous HFL, prompting heightened vigilance in Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur and Katihar districts, they said.

“Officials and field-level authorities have been directed to remain alert and continuously monitor water levels, embankments, vulnerable locations and low-lying areas, while taking precautionary measures as required. “Engineers have been asked to keep flood-control resources and machinery ready. People in affected areas have been advised to avoid going near the river and remain cautious,” the advisory stated.

The local administration has also been asked to monitor boat operations, prevent overloading and keep residents informed about the situation.

“At Gandhi Ghat in Patna, the Ganga was flowing at 50.57 metres at 6 am on Sunday, which is 0.05 metre above its previous HFL of 50.52 metres, recorded on August 21, 2016. The trend is stable. “At Pandarak in Patna, the Ganga was flowing at 43.92 metres at 6 am, which is 0.19 metre above its previous HFL of 43.73 metres, recorded on August 16, 2021,” the advisory said.

The rivers that are flowing above the danger level in the state include the Gandak at Dumariaghat and Hajipur, the Kosi at Baltara and Kursela, the Budhi Gandak at Khagaria, the Ganga at Hathidah, Bhagalpur, Kahalgaon, Buxar and Munger, the Punpun at Sripalpur, the Bagmati at Benibad and the Ghaghra at Darauli, the officials said.

A total of 110 community kitchens are currently operating in various districts for the flood-affected people, they said, adding, to facilitate the evacuation of people and movement in the affected areas, 1,345 boats have been pressed into service.

Besides, 27 teams of the SDRF and 10 from the NDRF have been deployed in various districts.

In a notification, the East Central Railway on Sunday said some trains have been cancelled or diverted because of the “alarmingly high water level at bridge number 21” that connects Punpun and Parsa Bazar stations on the Patna-Gaya section. Meanwhile, the opposition sought ‘national disaster’ status in Bihar in the wake of the floods.

Claiming that 76 per cent of the state’s area has been affected by floods, RJD national working president Tejashwi Yadav said 19 districts were reeling under the deluge, with more than 20 lakh people affected.

Yadav, who is Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, said in a post on X, “Livestock has been swept away… public infrastructure severely damaged and lives and property worth thousands of crores lost in the floods.” He accused the Bihar Government of being “indifferent” towards the flood victims, and urged the Centre to immediately declare the situation a “national disaster” and provide special financial assistance to the state.

Yadav also sought the deployment of Air Force helicopters for rescue operations, and requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Bihar, assess the situation on the ground and announce relief measures.

The RJD leader also hit out at the state Government for pursuing “misguided policies” that have contributed to rising inflation.

The prices of food items, petrol and diesel, fertilisers, seeds, electricity and cooking gas have increased, he asserted.

Yadav alleged that the Bihar Government, which had earlier described inflation as a major problem, was now “treating it like a queen” and “favouring” the rich at the expense of the poor and common people.