Flood Havoc in Bihar

A severe flood crisis has gripped Bihar, triggered by heavy rainfall in upstream Nepal. The downpour has significantly impacted districts along the Indo-Nepal border, leaving thousands homeless. Key infrastructure and agricultural lands have suffered extensive damage as major rivers in Bihar, including Kosi, Gandak, and Bagmati, are overflowing.

For the past three days, Nepal has experienced continuous heavy rainfall, which has caused the water to flow downstream into Bihar’s rivers, resulting in widespread flooding. On Sunday, six barrages breached, flooding nearby villages. In Sitamarhi district, the Bagmati river breached its embankments at four locations, while embankments in West Champaran and Sheohar districts also gave way.

Floodwaters have entered the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in West Champaran due to the swelling Gandak River. In Muzaffarpur, floodwaters have reached the power grid control room, raising concerns about a potential power outage, which could affect 43,000 people.

Several districts, including East Champaran, Gopalganj, Araria, Supaul, Katihar, and Purnia, have been severely impacted. Twelve NDRF teams and 22 SDRF teams are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations. The Meteorological Department has also issued warnings of further heavy rains and flash floods, with alerts in place for several districts across the state.