Severe Floods Ravage Bihar as Rivers Overflow Due to Continuous Rainfall in Nepal Division; CM Nitish Kumar Government Leads Relief Efforts

Continuous rainfall has continued in Nepal Division from 27.09.2024, as a result of which maximum water discharge/water level of this monsoon has been recorded in rivers like Gandak, Koshi, Mahananda, Bagmati etc. originating from Nepal Division. As a result, floods in Bihar have taken a terrible form. The Bihar government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken concrete steps to control the flood situation.

On 28.09.2024 at 10:00 am, 5.62 lakh cusecs of water flow flowed from Gandak Barrage, Valmiki Nagar in Bihar, which is 1.22 lakh cusecs more than the water flow of 4.40 lakh cusecs on 07.07.2024 this year. As a result, the new highest water levels of 94.00 m and 90.90 m respectively have been recorded at Chhatauni Ghat and Bagaha gauge stations on 29.09.2024, which is 0.80 m and 0.42 m more than the previous highest water level respectively.

Due to excessive pressure of the Gandak river, the Champaran embankment situated on the left bank of the Gandak river in Bagaha 1 block under the West Champaran district was damaged at km 4.50 on 29.09.2024 at 5:00 pm. For its protection, work is in progress on a war footing.

Mr. Nishikant Kumar, concerned Executive Engineer, Flood Control Division, Bagaha has been suspended on the charges of damage to the embankment, negligence in work and not maintaining proper coordination with the district administration.

On 29.09.2024 at 5:00 am, 6.61 lakh cusecs of water flow flowed from Koshi Barrage, Veerpur, which is 2.68 lakh cusecs more than the water flow of 3.93 lakh cusecs on 07.07.2024 this year.

Because of the excessive water flow in the Koshi river, movement has been restricted as a precaution. On 29.09.2024 at 11.00 pm, an over-topping situation occurred at Koshi Barrage, Veerpur. Due to the over-topping of water at Koshi Barrage, debris and wooden logs got stuck in the road and barrage gates, which have been removed. The site has been kept safe by preventing over-topping by making dowels on relatively low-height spurs constructed on the eastern/western Koshi embankment. Dowels are being constructed for the protection of over-topping in a length of about 50 m at km 39.75 of the western Koshi embankment.

Maximum water flow is flowing from the low flow area of the Gandak and Koshi rivers, as a result of which a continuous increase in the water level is being recorded in the low flow areas. In the course of patrolling being done on the embankments of the Gandak and Koshi rivers, the sites are being kept safe by identifying seepage/piping at certain sites and getting flood control work done as per requirement at other sites.

As a result of rainfall in the catchment area of Nepal Division, the embankment situated in Nepal on the Bagmati River was damaged on 28.09.2024, due to which water has spread in Nepal. Nevertheless, on 29.09.2024, a new highest water level of 73.35 m was recorded at the Dhang Gauge Station situated on the Bagmati River in Supi Block under Sitamarhi District, which is 0.35 m above the previous highest water level.

As a result of the unexpected increase in the flow and water level of the Bagmati River, the seepage/piping/rain cut situation at a total of 20 sites on the left and right embankments of the Bagmati River in Belsand, Parsauni, Bargainia and Rasalpur blocks of Sitamarhi district and Piprahi, Puranhiya and Shivhar blocks of Shivhar district has been kept safe by carrying out flood control works in time. Due to excessive rise in water level, today on 29.09.2024 at 1.00 pm, Bagmati right embankment near Madhkaul village in Belsand block under Sitamarhi district has been damaged in a length of about 35 m at km 37.50. Flood control work is being done on war footing to secure the damaged part.

Apart from this, the maximum water level was recorded on other rivers on 29.09.2024 during the flood 2024 period. The water level at the Jhanjharpur gauge site of the Kamla Balan river has been recorded as 52.10 m, which is 2.10 m above the danger mark. The water level at the Gowabari gauge site of Lalbekia river has been recorded as 72.70 m, which is 1.55 m above the danger mark. The water level of the Mahananda river at Taiyabpur and Degraghat gauge sites has been recorded as 66.81 m and 37.22 m respectively, which is 0.81 m and 1.57 m above the danger mark respectively. The embankments and structures of Kamla Balan, Lalbekia and Mahananda rivers are safe.