Ganga Crosses Highest Flood Mark at Patna’s Gandhi Ghat as Bihar Flood Crisis Intensifies

The flood situation in Bihar intensified on Saturday as the Ganga crossed its highest flood level at Gandhi Ghat in Patna, with the river continuing to rise amid heavy rainfall in Bihar and neighbouring Nepal. The development has heightened the risk of inundation in low-lying areas of the state capital, while several other major rivers are also flowing above their respective danger marks.

According to the latest bulletin issued by the Bihar Water Resources Department (WRD), the Ganga at Gandhi Ghat rose by 10 cm in four hours, reaching 50.53 metres at 10 am on Saturday - 1 cm above the highest flood level (HFL) of 50.52 metres. The WRD has forecast the river could rise further to 50.62 metres by 8 am Sunday, prompting authorities to advise residents in vulnerable areas to exercise caution.

The latest level surpasses the previous HFL recorded at Gandhi Ghat on August 21, 2016, highlighting the pressure on Patna's flood-control system. The Ganga has also crossed the HFL at Pandarak and remains above danger levels at several locations, including Digha, Hathidah, Buxar, Munger, Bhagalpur and Kahalgaon.

The crisis extends beyond the Ganga. The Gandak, Kosi, Burhi Gandak, Bagmati, Punpun and Ghaghra are flowing above danger marks at various locations. Around 10.26 lakh people across 11 districts, 50 blocks and 201 gram panchayats have been affected, with Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar and Araria among the affected districts.

Heavy rainfall in Bihar, along with precipitation in Nepal and Jharkhand, has contributed to rising river levels. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rain in Bihar through September 8, keeping the threat elevated. Bihar's geography adds to the vulnerability, with around 65% of the catchment area of several major north Bihar rivers lying in Nepal/Tibet. The state has about 68,800 sq km, or 73.06% of its geographical area, identified as flood-prone.

Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary conducted an aerial survey and reviewed relief operations, directing officials to identify affected families and closely monitor Ganga embankments from Buxar to Bhagalpur. The state has deployed 33 rescue teams - 27 SDRF and six NDRF - and nearly 700 government boats, alongside relief camps and community kitchens.

With the Ganga forecast to rise further and multiple rivers remaining above danger levels, authorities are maintaining round-the-clock surveillance of embankments, river gauges and vulnerable settlements. The coming days will be critical as continued rainfall and upstream inflows could worsen inundation across Bihar.