1 day ago
Bihar Floods Worsen as Ganga Breaks Patna’s Record Level
Bihar is facing serious flooding after heavy rain in Bihar and nearby Jharkhand.
More than 22 lakh people were reported affected across 12 districts in the latest figures.
An earlier report gave a lower total of 16.85 lakh people across 11 districts.
The Ganga River rose above its previous highest flood level at Gandhi Ghat in Patna.
Several other rivers also rose above their danger marks.
Boats and rescue teams are helping people in flooded areas.
Community kitchens are preparing food for people who need it.
Some trains were cancelled or diverted because floodwater threatened a railway bridge.
Officials are watching the rivers and embankments because more rain could make the flooding worse.
Officials said 22.42 lakh people across 12 Bihar districts were affected by flooding, while an earlier report cited 16.85 lakh across 11 districts.
The Ganga crossed its previous highest flood level at Gandhi Ghat in Patna and also exceeded the earlier record at Pandarak.
Several rivers, including the Gandak, Kosi, Budhi Gandak, Punpun, Bagmati and Ghaghra, were above danger levels.
Authorities deployed 1,429 boats, 27 State Disaster Response Force teams, 10 National Disaster Response Force teams and 190 community kitchens.
East Central Railway cancelled and diverted some trains, while more rain was forecast across Bihar over the following two days.
- Who
- Residents of 12 Bihar districts are affected, while state authorities, rescue forces, railway officials and relief workers are responding; opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav has demanded national-disaster status.
- What
- Flooding has affected 22.42 lakh people in the latest official figures, with the Ganga crossing its previous highest flood level at Gandhi Ghat in Patna.
- Where
- The affected districts include Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Lakhisarai and Arwal in Bihar.
- When
- The latest reports described conditions on Sunday and forecast more rain over the next two days; some river stations could be affected within one to three days.
- Why
- Heavy rainfall in Bihar and neighbouring Jharkhand caused rivers to overflow, while additional rain could push river levels higher.
Government Response
Opposition Demands
Assessment of the flood response
Government Response
Authorities have deployed boats, rescue teams and community kitchens, ordered monitoring of rivers and embankments, and advised residents to avoid rivers.
Opposition Demands
Tejashwi Yadav accused the Bihar government of being indifferent to affected people and said infrastructure, property and livestock had suffered major losses.
National assistance
Government Response
The reported government response focuses on state-level rescue, relief, surveillance and precautionary measures.
Opposition Demands
Tejashwi Yadav called for the floods to be declared a national disaster, special financial assistance, Indian Air Force helicopters and a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Key facts
- Latest affected population
- 22.42 lakh people across 12 districts
- Earlier reported figure
- Nearly 16.85 lakh people across 11 districts
- Ganga record at Gandhi Ghat
- 50.57 metres, 0.05 metres above the previous highest flood level
- Ganga level at Pandarak
- 43.92 metres, 0.19 metres above the previous highest flood level
- Emergency deployment
- 1,429 boats, 27 State Disaster Response Force teams and 10 National Disaster Response Force teams
- Relief kitchens
- 190 community kitchens operating across affected districts
- Rainfall and forecast
- Bihar received 69.1 mm of rain in September, 55% above normal; more rain is forecast over two days
Quotes
Samrat Choudhary
Bihar Chief Minister who reviewed flood preparedness and relief operations
“Given the situation, the administration is fully alert, and all possible facilities are being provided to the people. The government has also initiated work towards a permanent solution to flood-related problems. Embankments along the Ganga will be strengthened and organised, while ring embankments and new stretches will be constructed wherever required to restrict the spread of floodwaters.”
thestatesman.com
“The Ganga water is spreading across a stretch of nearly 20 kilometres at several places. Ring embankments and new stretches will be constructed as required.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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