Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Bihar Floods Worsen as Gandak Breaches Embankments, Triggering Protests
Heavy rain in Nepal sent a very large amount of water into the Gandak River.
The river rose to its highest recorded level at one Bihar gauge.
Several embankments, which are barriers meant to hold back floodwater, broke or weakened.
Water covered more than 200 villages in parts of Bihar.
Some trains were cancelled or sent along different routes.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary flew over flooded areas and visited a relief camp.
People at the camp complained that relief efforts were not good enough.
Later, protesters confronted MP Sanjay Jaiswal and reportedly threw cow dung at his vehicle.
Rescue and relief teams continued working while officials watched the rivers and embankments.
The Gandak River reached a record 91.25 metres at the Bagaha gauge after heavy rainfall in Nepal and increased water discharge.
The Champaran embankment breached at four West Champaran locations, while other embankments in East Champaran, Gopalganj and Saran were also damaged.
More than 200 villages across several Bihar districts were inundated, with flooding also affecting rail services and road connectivity.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary conducted an aerial survey and visited a relief camp in Bathna on September 30.
Residents protested over relief arrangements, and demonstrators reportedly threw cow dung at BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal’s vehicle after the chief minister left.
- Who
- Bihar residents, state authorities, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal were central to the report.
- What
- Flooding from the Gandak and other rivers breached or weakened embankments, inundated more than 200 villages and led to protests over relief arrangements.
- When
- The chief minister’s aerial survey and relief-camp visit took place on September 30, 2026; the report was published October 1, 2026.
- Where
- Flooding affected West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran and other parts of Bihar, including the Bathna relief camp.
- Why
- Heavy rainfall in Nepal’s Gandak basin and a major surge in water discharge caused the river to rise and put pressure on embankments.
Residents and Critics
Authorities and Supporters
Adequacy of relief operations
Residents and Critics
Flood-affected residents expressed dissatisfaction with relief arrangements and questioned the role of local elected representatives.
Authorities and Supporters
The administration said rescue and relief operations were continuing, while the chief minister reviewed camp facilities and directed officials to address grievances.
National-disaster designation
Residents and Critics
Calls were made for the central government to declare the Bihar floods a national disaster because of the scale of inundation and infrastructure damage.
Authorities and Supporters
The report says the discussion has intensified but does not state that the Centre has agreed to or rejected the designation.
- Gandak water level
- 91.25 metres at the Bagaha gauge, 0.35 metres above the previous 2024 record.
- Barrage discharge
- The Valmikinagar Gandak Barrage recorded more than 5 lakh cusecs for several hours.
- Villages affected
- More than 200 villages across several Bihar districts were inundated.
- Embankment breaches
- The Champaran embankment breached at four West Champaran locations.
- Rail disruption
- Four trains were cancelled and several others diverted on the Sahibganj-Maharajpur section, with additional disruptions reported elsewhere.
- Chief minister’s response
- Samrat Choudhary surveyed flood-hit areas and reviewed food, medical care, water, sanitation, accommodation and livestock arrangements at a relief camp.
- Relief-camp protest
- Residents raised slogans against local MPs and MLAs; protesters later reportedly surrounded Sanjay Jaiswal’s vehicle and threw cow dung at it.