Ganga crosses highest flood level in Patna as river swells amid heavy rain
Around 10.26 lakh people across 11 districts of Bihar have been affected by floods, while the Ganga water level at Gandhi Ghat here crossed the highest flood level on Saturday morning amid heavy rain in the state, official bulletins said.
The Ganga was flowing at 50.53 metres at Gandhi Ghat at 10 am, 1 cm above the highest flood level, after rising by 10 cm in four hours, the Water Resources Department (WRD) said.
The previous highest flood level of 50.52 metres was recorded on August 21, 2016.
The water level is expected to rise further to 50.62 metres by 8 am on Sunday, the WRD said, advising people to exercise caution.
At Pandarak in Patna, the Ganga was flowing at 43.78 metres at 10 am on Saturday, above its previous highest flood level of 43.73 metres recorded on August 16, 2021.
According to the state Disaster Management Department, around 10.26 lakh people in 50 blocks covering 201 gram panchayats across 11 districts have been affected by the floods.
The affected districts are Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar and Araria.
Several rivers, including the Gandak, Kosi, Burhi Gandak, Ganga, Punpun and Ghaghara, are flowing above danger marks at various locations, the official bulletin said.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary directed ministers and officials to visit flood-affected areas and closely monitor relief and rescue operations. Senior officials have also been asked to camp in affected areas and supervise relief measures.
The WRD directed district magistrates and superintendents of police to take precautionary measures, alert people living along embankments and ensure continuous patrolling by special teams.
The rising water levels have followed heavy rainfall in Bihar and neighbouring Nepal. Bihar has received 60.8 mm of rainfall in September so far, which is 69 per cent above normal.
The state government has set up 38 community kitchens for flood-affected people and distributed around 12,300 polythene sheets and 2,250 dry-ration packets. As many as 858 boats are being operated to facilitate evacuation and movement.
Twenty-seven State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams and seven National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) groups have also been deployed in the affected districts.
BJP national president Nitin Nabin said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Choudhary were monitoring the situation and that the government was making efforts to minimise the difficulties faced by people.
“The chief minister is monitoring the situation. The government is fully aware of the fact. All of us are making efforts to ensure that people face the least possible difficulties during this disaster,” Nabin told reporters in Patna.
He said Modi was also monitoring the situation at the Centre, adding that the flooding had continued amid the disaster in Nepal and persistent rainfall.
