Bagmati River flows above danger mark in Bihar's Muzaffarpur; administration on flood alert
Patna, Aug 7
Continuous rainfall in several parts of Nepal has led to a rise in water levels of major rivers in North Bihar, prompting the Muzaffarpur district administration to intensify flood monitoring measures.
According to the daily river water level report issued by the Muzaffarpur District Emergency Operation Centre at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, the Bagmati River was flowing above the danger mark, while the Gandak and Burhi Gandak Rivers were also witnessing a steady rise in water levels.
The report stated that the Bagmati River at Kataujha was flowing at 55.15 metres, exceeding its danger mark of 55.00 metres.
Although a slight decline in water level has been observed since the latest reading, officials said the river continued to remain above the danger level, and the situation is being closely monitored.
The Burhi Gandak River at Sikandarpur was recorded at 49.16 metres, below its danger mark of 52.53 metres.
However, the river has shown a continuous upward trend, raising concerns that persistent rainfall in the catchment areas could lead to further increase in the coming days.
Similarly, the Gandak River at Rewaghat was measured at 53.63 metres, remaining below its danger mark of 54.41 metres.
Despite this, officials said the steadily rising water level has prompted heightened vigilance in vulnerable areas.
Officials from the Water Resources Department, including junior engineers of the Water Discharge Division, along with personnel from the District Flood Control Room, are maintaining round-the-clock surveillance of river levels and embankments.
The district administration has advised residents living along riverbanks and in low-lying areas to remain alert and strictly follow official advisories.
Authorities said special attention is being given to flood-prone locations so that relief and rescue operations can be launched immediately if the situation deteriorates.
The Water Resource Department has set up a control room in Patna to monitor the flood situation in North Bihar and the Seemanchal region.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The administration is doing its best, but the real solution lies in cross-border cooperation with Nepal on river management. We can't keep playing catch-up every monsoon.
It's concerning to see the Bagmati above the danger mark. Having worked on flood relief in the region before, I know how quickly these situations can escalate. Hope the coordination between districts and the state control room in Patna is airtight this time.
These embankments are aging and not maintained properly. Instead of just sending junior engineers for surveillance, the government should invest in desilting and strengthening these structures before the monsoon hits. 😔
Hope the local administration is also keeping emergency supplies and evacuation drills ready. Preparedness saves lives.
It feels like these warnings come out every year, but the response is always too late. The people in low-lying areas are so vulnerable. This needs a visionary solution, not just temporary measures. 🙏
I pray for the safety of the people of Bihar. The weather patterns are becoming more unpredictable, it's time to build climate-resilient infrastructure.
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