The Bihar government has issued a flood alert for the state’s northern and central areas following a significant release of water from the Valmikinagar and Birpur barrages. The Bihar floods scenario, which was already impaired due to excessive rainfall, is anticipated to worsen, affecting more than 16.28 lakh people across 13 districts. This development follows the large discharge of water from barrages along the Kosi, Gandak, and Ganga rivers.

“Due to heavy rains in Nepal, water discharge in rivers like Gandak, Kosi, and Mahananda has increased significantly,” stated a Bihar Water Resources Department (WRD). According to Santosh Kumar Mall, Principal Secretary of the WRD, the Birpur Barrage on the Kosi River released 5.79 lakh cusecs of water, the highest in 56 years. He further stated that all required steps are being taken to secure the embankments and prevent breaches. The last large water flow from the Kosi barrage was in 1968 when 7.88 lakh cusecs were discharged.

The Valmikinagar Barrage also experienced a significant water discharge, with 5.38 lakh cusecs released by Saturday evening. This is the highest level since 2003, exceeding the 6.39 lakh cusecs emitted that year. As a precaution, traffic near the Kosi barrage has been halted, and WRD personnel are constantly monitoring the embankments. Senior and young engineers labour around the clock to ensure any hazard is discovered and addressed immediately.

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Widespread Impact and Precautionary Measures

Rising water levels in various rivers, including the Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati, Burhi Gandak, Kamla Balan, Mahananda, and Ganga, have increased the Bihar floods risk. Over the last three days, continuous rainfall has forced rivers to run above the danger threshold in numerous areas, notably around the Nepal border. Nepalese authorities also helped raise water levels by releasing 5.40 lakh cusecs of water into the Gandak barrage and 4.99 lakh cusecs into the Kosi barrage on Saturday.

The excess water has flooded low-lying areas in various districts, including West and East Champaran, Gopalganj, Araria, Supaul, Katihar, and Purnea. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts more heavy rain in certain locations, increasing the risk of flash flooding. The disaster management department has advised local governments to remain cautious and take preventative steps. Thirteen districts along the Ganga, including Buxar, Bhojpur, Saran, Patna, and Bhagalpur, are already suffering flood-like conditions, with nearly 13.5 lakh people affected.

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Bihar Floods Evacuation Measures

Evacuations have occurred in the most seriously damaged districts, and relief camps have been established for displaced residents. Heavy rainfall in Gopalganj flooded a government hospital, demonstrating the floods’ devastating impact on crucial services.

Farmers in northern Bihar are experiencing substantial losses due to unexpected late-season floods, which have ruined thousands of acres of Kharif crops such as paddy, makhana, and vegetables. The Bihar Agricultural University in Sabour (Bhagalpur) also reported damage to high-quality seeds destined for the following planting season. The university’s Vice Chancellor, D R Singh, acknowledged that seeds from 1.05 acres of farmland had been destroyed. In reaction to the rising crisis, state officials are attempting to implement relief measures and take safety precautions to limit the impact of the floods. The combination of excessive rainfall and water discharge from barrages presents a significant challenge to the state, particularly those in susceptible locations.

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