Fresh embankment breaches worsen flooding across Bihar districts

Fresh breaches in embankments and dams along the Gandak River have sent floodwaters into several villages in Bihar’s Saran, Gopalganj and Muzaffarpur districts, The Hindu reported. The Shitalpur dam collapsed in Gopalganj, while an embankment was breached in Panapur, in Saran’s Chhapra area. A ring bund of the Tirhut main embankment also failed in Muzaffarpur’s Sahebganj block.

Earlier breaches had been reported in West Champaran and East Champaran. Officials attributed the pressure to heavy rainfall in Nepal and Uttar Pradesh, which pushed the Gandak into spate. At Dumaria Ghat in Gopalganj, the river remained about 22 centimetres above its highest flood level for nearly 36 hours.

Levels at Rewaghat in Saran and Lalganj in Vaishali stayed above that mark for about 24 hours. The Water Resources Department said the already high level of the Ganga had added to the difficulty by creating backflow pressure in the Gandak. Critical seepage and piping were observed at three points along the Saran embankment, while officials carried out flood-fighting operations and monitored other vulnerable locations.

The department said the Gandak’s level had begun to decline, but remained above the previous all-time high flood level. It warned that hydraulic pressure on embankments could persist for the next 48 hours. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inspected the rising Ganga at JP Ganga Path and instructed officials to prioritise public safety and prevent disruption.

He said the government was maintaining special vigilance and had sought assistance from the Indian Air Force for rescue and relief operations. An Air Force helicopter dropped dry rations in Panapur. Fourteen National Disaster Response Force teams were deployed to move stranded residents to safer areas and distribute supplies.

Choudhary said the Ganga, Gandak and Sone rivers had recorded high inflows despite Bihar receiving 32% less rainfall than normal during the season.