Daijiworld Media Network – Patna
Patna, Oct 1: The flood situation in Bihar has worsened as the Gandak River reached a record water level in West Champaran, inundating more than 200 villages and damaging several embankments across multiple districts.
The Gandak reached 91.25 metres at the Bagaha gauge in West Champaran, surpassing the previous record of 90.90 metres recorded in 2024. The sharp rise followed heavy rainfall in Nepal's Gandak basin and a major increase in water discharge.
The Valmikinagar Gandak Barrage recorded a discharge of more than five lakh cusecs for several hours, sending large volumes of water downstream into Bihar.
The Champaran embankment was breached at four locations in West Champaran within around 10 hours. The breaches were reported at Khairatwa in Bagaha-1, Phuliyakhad in Bairia, Bathuwaria in Bagaha-1 and Golaghat in Yogapatti.
Flooding has also affected East Champaran, Gopalganj and Saran. The Gandak's ring embankment breached at Areraj in East Champaran, while a section of the Zamindari embankment at Sheetalpur in Gopalganj was also damaged.
In Saran, around an eight-metre stretch of the right Saran embankment near Haizalpur in Maker block subsided, allowing floodwater to spread into nearby areas.
More than 200 villages across West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran and other affected districts have been impacted. The flooding has also spread towards Muzaffarpur and Vaishali, while rising water levels in the Bagmati and Kosi rivers have affected other parts of north Bihar.
Water Resources Department engineers and personnel have been deployed in Bagaha, Bettiah, Motihari and Gopalganj to reinforce vulnerable embankments, control seepage and respond to further breaches.
The flooding has also disrupted rail services. Erosion caused by the Ganga on the Sahibganj-Maharajpur section brought a stretch of railway track dangerously close to the river, prompting authorities to stop traffic on the down line as a precaution. Four trains were cancelled and several others diverted.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary conducted an aerial survey of flood-hit areas of West Champaran and Saran on September 30. He surveyed Bagaha, Bathna in Bairia block, Machhargawan in Yogapatti, and Shivrajpur, Bankatwa and adjoining areas in Nautan. He also inspected the breached embankment at Haizalpur in Saran.
Choudhary later visited a flood relief camp at PM Shri Government Plus-2 High School in Bathna and reviewed arrangements for community kitchens, medical care, drinking water, sanitation, accommodation and livestock care. He interacted with affected residents and directed officials to address their concerns and ensure timely delivery of relief.
Tension was reported during the Chief Minister's visit after several flood-affected residents raised slogans against local MPs and MLAs over relief arrangements. Security personnel increased security around Choudhary as the situation became tense.
BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal and the local Narkatiaganj MLA reportedly remained at the school after the Chief Minister left. Police later escorted Jaiswal towards his vehicle, which was reportedly surrounded by protesting residents. Some protesters allegedly threw cow dung at the vehicle and hit it with their hands before police escorted the MP away under tight security.
The protests came amid growing frustration among residents over relief and rehabilitation arrangements as large areas remain inundated.
With the Gandak continuing to put pressure on embankments, authorities remain on alert for further breaches and rising river levels. Rescue and relief operations are continuing across the affected districts, with access to shelter, food, medical care and transport remaining the immediate priorities for displaced residents.