CM Nitish takes air survey of flood-hit North Bihar

In North Bihar, a massive flood has displaced over 10 lakh people across 16 districts. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas on Tuesday, accompanied by Water Resource Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Additional Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit. The unprecedented rainfall in Nepal’s catchment areas has significantly exacerbated the situation, leading to the release of large volumes of water from the Valmikinagar Gandak Barrage and Kosi Barrage since September 27.

The flood has severely impacted several districts, including West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Supaul, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Purnea, Araria, Katihar, and Kishanganj. Many flood victims have sought refuge on railway platforms, roads, and highways. In Sitamarhi, the Bagmati River breached embankments at multiple locations, including Bensand and Runni Saidpur blocks, causing widespread destruction. Similar breaches in Sheohar intensified the situation, as the embankment along the Bagmati River at Tariyani Chhapra collapsed, worsening the flood’s impact on local communities.

The flooding has escalated as embankments succumb to rising water levels. A critical breach occurred in Darbhanga at Badaul village, driven by the strong flow of the Kosi River. In East Champaran's Sugauli block, a ring dam on the Sikrahna River collapsed, losing around 30 feet due to intense pressure from heavy rains in Nepal. This dam, constructed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), was intended to mitigate flooding.

As rivers across North Bihar continue to rise above the danger level, the situation remains dire. The Bagmati River has surpassed danger marks in several locations, while the Kosi, Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Kamla Balan, Ganga, Adhwara, and Mahananda rivers have all recorded alarming levels. Following the aerial survey, Chief Minister Kumar met with officials, directing them to ramp up relief efforts and ensure the provision of essential services to those affected.