Bihar places 17 districts on high alert as rivers rise
Bihar authorities have placed 17 districts on high alert after heavy rainfall in Nepal’s Gandak catchment and rising levels in the Gandak, Bagmati and Kosi rivers. Officials were instructed to monitor vulnerable areas, prepare rescue equipment and issue warnings. The state says nearly 50.49 lakh people have been affected by floods.
Bihar authorities have placed 17 districts on high alert after persistent rain in Nepal’s Gandak catchment area and rising water levels in several rivers. Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit chaired a review meeting on Saturday with officials from the Disaster Management and Water Resources departments and district magistrates from 17 districts. The districts include Sitamarhi, West Champaran, East Champaran, Sheohar, Vaishali, Gopalganj, Saran, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura, Katihar, Khagaria and Begusarai.
District administrations were directed to continuously monitor river levels, low-lying areas, embankments, riverside villages, bridges, culverts and connecting roads. The National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force were told to remain ready. Authorities were also instructed to keep boats, life jackets, rescue equipment and other emergency supplies available.
Public announcements are to be used for early warnings, while vulnerable residents should be moved to safer locations if necessary. The Bihar Weather Service Centre said the state had recorded 212 millimetres of rainfall in September, 10% above normal. The Central Water Commission reported that the Gandak, Kosi and Bagmati were above danger levels at several locations.
Discharge at the Gandak Barrage was 288,800 cusecs and at Indrapuri Barrage 43,565 cusecs, with both trends rising. Kosi Barrage discharge was 303,795 cusecs and described as stable. The authorities said about 50.49 lakh people had been affected by flooding across 578 gram panchayats in 15 districts.
The state’s emergency assistance number is 1070.
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