The flood situation in Bihar has escalated to a critical level as the mighty Ganga River breaches historical limits, raising immediate fears of severe inundation in Patna and surrounding districts.
With water levels rising rapidly, local authorities have issued urgent warnings to residents living near the riverbanks.
The Critical Surge at Gandhi Ghat
On Saturday morning, the Water Resources Department (WRD) confirmed that the Ganga’s water level at Patna's iconic Gandhi Ghat rose by 10 cm in just four hours. By 10 a.m., the river reached a height of 50.53 meters—pushing it 1 cm above its previous "highest flood level."
The impact is already visible on the ground. Roads leading to Gandhi Ghat have been completely submerged, and the risk of water spilling into Patna's low-lying residential areas is growing by the hour.
Worse, the danger is expected to peak soon. Hydrological forecasts indicate that the water level at Gandhi Ghat is highly likely to rise further, reaching an estimated 50.62 meters by Sunday morning.
Why the Region is Under Water
This alarming surge is not an isolated event. Bihar is currently battling a multi-river crisis driven by relentless monsoon rains.
The state's water systems are overwhelmed by heavy localized downpours as well as massive water discharge from neighboring Nepal, which recently experienced devastating flash floods.
Consequently, several major rivers across Bihar are now flowing well above their danger marks. These include:
- The Gandak
- The Kosi
- The Burhi Gandak
- The Bagmati
- The Punpun
- The Ghaghra
How the State is Responding
In response to the mounting crisis, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary conducted an aerial survey of the affected zones to assess the scale of the damage and coordinate emergency efforts.
The state administration has been put on high alert. The Chief Minister has directed officials to:
- Immediately identify and evacuate families in high-risk zones.
- Ensure the swift distribution of food, clean water, and medical relief.
- Continuously monitor vulnerable embankments and river barriers stretching from Buxar to Bhagalpur to prevent structural breaches.
As the next 24 hours remain critical, residents in low-lying sectors are being advised to monitor official weather bulletins and prepare for potential evacuation orders.
