Patna: The flood situation in Bihar deteriorated further on Friday as water levels of major rivers, including the Ganga, Gandak, Punpun and Dardha, continued to rise, inundating new areas across the state. According to the Water Resources Department, the Ganga is expected to cross its Highest Flood Level (HFL) at Patna’s Gandhi Ghat and Hathidah in Mokama by Friday night.
The state Disaster Management Department has issued an alert for residents living along riverbanks and in low-lying areas of Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Nalanda, Begusarai, Lakhisarai and Jehanabad, urging them to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures.
In Patna, the Ganga was flowing 1.17 metres above the danger mark at Digha, 1.67 metres above the danger mark at Gandhi Ghat and 1.32 metres above the danger mark at Hathidah. The Punpun River was recorded at 2.29 metres above the danger mark at Shripalpur, while the Dardha River was flowing 3.07 metres above the danger mark at Kolhachak.
In Bhagalpur, the Ganga rose by 15 cm over the past 24 hours, leading to the re-entry of floodwaters into diara areas of Nathnagar, Naugachia and Pirpainti. Vast tracts of agricultural land, along with standing crops and fodder, have been submerged.
Khagaria remains among the worst-hit districts, with the Ganga flowing 1.01 metres above the danger mark. The Kosi, Bagmati and Burhi Gandak rivers were also flowing significantly above danger levels, heightening concerns of further flooding.
In Raghopur, severe erosion and land subsidence have been reported along a railway line after the near-complete erosion of a marginal embankment. The main channel of the Ganga has shifted dangerously close to the tracks, affecting areas within a two-to-three-kilometre radius.
The Ganga’s water level in Munger rose by 36 cm in the last 24 hours. In Madhepura district’s Alamnagar and Chausa blocks, nearly one lakh people have been affected by floods, prompting authorities to deploy 35 boats for rescue and relief operations.
In Banka district, a diversion road built for an under-construction bridge near Barsanda village was washed away by the strong current of the Mirchni River. Several villages in Saharsa have also been inundated.
Floodwaters have disrupted road connectivity in several districts. In West Champaran, traffic has come to a standstill on the Yogapatti-Chhota Chaumukha-Siswa Mangalpur road, where water is flowing two to three feet above the roadway. Around two dozen villages in Samastipur have been affected by flooding, while several rural roads are submerged. Traffic movement has also been disrupted on the Kachchi Dargah-Bidupur six-lane bridge in Patna.
All panchayats in Raghopur block of Vaishali district have been affected, with nearly 20 panchayats losing road connectivity to the main network, hampering relief operations and the movement of residents.
(IANS)
