The flood situation in Bihar has significantly deteriorated following the breach of embankments along the Kosi and Bagmati rivers. On Monday, September 30, 2024, officials reported that the embankments of the Kosi River in Darbhanga district and the Bagmati River in Sitamarhi district had been breached, exacerbating the flood crisis in the region.
The Kosi River, which was in spate, breached its embankment near Kartarpur block, resulting in the inundation of Kirtarpur and Ghanshyampur villages in Darbhanga. Similarly, seepage was reported in the embankment of the Bagmati River in the Runni Saidpur block of Sitamarhi district. These breaches have led to widespread flooding, affecting thousands of people along the riverbanks.
Extent of the Damage
The breaches have had a profound impact on several districts in Bihar. In Sitamarhi district, the embankment of the Bagmati River at Madhkaul village was damaged due to excessive water pressure, leading to flooding in the area. Additionally, the embankment of the Gandak River in West Champaran was breached, causing significant inundation in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
According to reports, six incidents of embankment breaches have been reported across the state, with some already repaired and others undergoing repair. The affected areas include West and East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Vaishali, Patna, Jehanabad, Madhubani, Araria, Purnea, Katihar, and Bhojpur. Over 16 lakh people have been affected by the floods, with no casualties reported so far.
Response and Relief Efforts
The state water resources and disaster management departments are working tirelessly to manage the situation. Six additional teams of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDRF) from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Ranchi in Jharkhand are being deployed to supplement the existing 12 NDRF and 22 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams already engaged in relief and rescue operations.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) has reported that several major rivers, including the Gandak, Bagmati, and Dhardha, are flowing at their highest levels, while others like the Ganga, Burhi Gandak, Koshi, Adhwara, Kamlabalan, Mahananda, Parman, and Fulhar are flowing above the danger mark. This has led to severe flooding across various districts near the Indo-Nepal border.
Causes and Context
The flood situation in Bihar is exacerbated by heavy to very heavy rainfall in Nepal between September 26 and September 28, 2024, combined with the discharge of excessive water from the Birpur and Valmiki Nagar barrages into the Kosi, Gandak, and Bagmati rivers. This scenario is not uncommon, as Bihar is prone to annual flooding due to its geographical location and the heavy monsoon rains. For more on why Bihar experiences frequent floods, see Bihar under water: Why the state sees floods every year.
The recurring nature of these floods highlights the need for robust flood management strategies. The flood control measures in place are often tested by the sheer volume of water and the intensity of the monsoon season.
As the situation remains grim, with over 16 lakh people affected, the state and central governments are under pressure to expedite relief and rescue operations. Leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge have called for immediate action to alleviate the suffering of the flood-affected villagers.
