Bihar: Bagmati River crosses danger mark, erosion intensifies
Patna, Aug 10
Amid continuous rainfall in North Bihar and across the Bagmati River's catchment areas in Nepal, the river has once again turned turbulent, with its water level rising steadily and crossing the danger mark.
At the Dubbaghat gauge station, the Bagmati River's danger level is 61.28 metres. The river is currently flowing at 61.33 metres, exceeding the danger mark by 5 centimetres. This is reportedly the highest water level recorded during the current season, with the flow continuing to intensify.
As the river swells, water is spreading rapidly within the embankments and moving towards several low‑lying areas. Floodwater has also entered the NDRF camp at Dubbaghat. Severe erosion has been reported at several locations, including Dubbaghat, Piprahi Ghat, Adauri Ghat and Motnaje. Farmlands and standing crops are being affected as sections of agricultural land are gradually being washed away.
The rising water level and strong currents have triggered anxiety among residents living in villages close to the embankments, with fears of flooding growing as the situation worsens. Continuous erosion is also taking place near Pillar No. 1 of the Bagmati Bridge at Piprahi, with the affected area expanding steadily. Erosion has been reported along both banks of the river, raising concerns over the safety of nearby infrastructure and settlements.
Acting on the directions of District Magistrate Pratibha Rani, teams from the district administration and the Bagmati Division have been placed on high alert. Flood‑control and embankment‑strengthening operations are being carried out continuously. Large stones and sandbags are being deployed at vulnerable points to check erosion.
Teams from the Bagmati Division are maintaining round‑the‑clock monitoring of the river and keeping a close watch on changes in its water level. Meanwhile, the Bagmati River water is flowing rapidly through the Belwa‑Minapur link channel with the assistance of the Belwa Dam, adding to concerns in the surrounding areas.
District Magistrate Pratibha Rani confirmed that erosion is occurring near both the Piprahi and Dubba bridge locations. Repair and erosion‑control work is being carried out on a war footing at both sites. The district administration has stepped up preparedness in view of the rising river level and the possibility of flooding. Officials said all necessary arrangements have been made to deal with the situation and that teams remain ready to respond to any eventuality.
— IANS
Reader Comments
These flood situations in Bihar break my heart. The rivers coming from Nepal bring so much water and our embankments are just not enough. Hope the administration is really on high alert as mentioned and evacuates people from low-lying areas promptly. Stay safe everyone in the flood-affected regions! ❤️
It's concerning to see how the water level keeps rising and erosion intensifying near important infrastructure like bridges. The District Magistrate seems to be taking the right steps with high alert and round-the-clock monitoring, but I wonder if there's coordination with Nepal regarding water release from dams upstream. International cooperation on river management is crucial, especially for regions sharing river basins.
The NDRF camp itself being flooded shows how severe the situation is! The administration should accelerate relief measures and ensure essential supplies reach affected villages. Also, a quick thought - we need better flood forecasting systems to give people adequate warning time. Our farmers have already lost so much, we can't let them lose more. Government should ensure proper compensation for crop losses too.
This is a worrying situation indeed. While I appreciate the quick response from the DM and her team, I can't help but think about the repeated nature of this problem. We see the same news every year with slight variations. Why hasn't there been any major investment in sustainable flood control infrastructure? We're simply reacting to situations rather than preventing them. The need of the hour is long-term planning including better drainage systems, stronger embankments, and advanced river basin management.
I hope all the people living near the embank
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