Patna,Aug 27: Nepal’s flash floods have heightened flood concerns in Bihar, prompting authorities to open all 36 gates of the Gandak Barrage at Bagaha and release over 6.32 lakh cusecs of water so far, officials said.
Following the flash flood in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, water was released from the barrage four times since Thursday morning as authorities sought to manage the rising inflow from Nepal.
The discharge stood at 1,52,000 cusecs at midnight, 88,000 cusecs at 6 am, 92,900 cusecs at 7 am, 1,04,400 cusecs at 10 am and 1,06,600 cusecs at noon. The noon discharge translates to around 30.2 lakh litres per second.
Several canals connected to the barrage have also been emptied to create additional space for incoming water.
The Central Water Commission has warned of waves of up to three metres in the Gandak and the possibility of flash floods. West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sitamarhi and Shivhar have been placed on high alert.
The impact was already being felt in several districts. In Vaishali, water has entered villages near Desari and Ganiyari Ghat, where the Gandak meets the Ganga, while flood conditions have emerged in all panchayats of Raghopur. Around 400 houses in the area are reportedly surrounded by floodwater.
Gandak water has also spread into agricultural fields in Gopalganj. In Munger, more than 100 houses in low-lying areas have been affected by the rising Ganga.
Khagaria has reported severe flooding, with more than 50,000 houses in 20 panchayats reportedly submerged. The Ganga and Burhi Gandak are around 80 cm above the danger mark in the district.
Authorities are shifting residents living along the Gandak to safer and higher ground. NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed, while community kitchens have been arranged for affected people.
The Valmikinagar Gandak Barrage has been designed to withstand approximately 8.5 lakh cusecs of water. Authorities said the expected inflow of 3-4 lakh cusecs does not pose an immediate structural threat to the barrage, though the strong current remains a major concern.
People have been advised against boating or navigating the Gandak due to the strong current.
Movement along the Nepal border in Bagaha has also been restricted as a precautionary measure. Bihar residents stranded in Nepal and Nepalese citizens stranded in Bihar are being allowed to cross, while other movement remains restricted.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said the situation was being closely monitored and cautioned that the threat had not passed.
“The danger has not yet been removed,” Choudhary said.
He added, “The situation is gradually returning to normal. The danger is not over yet. Everyone is busy with their work. With God’s grace, everything will be fine soon.”
With the Gandak receiving heavy inflows following the Nepal disaster, authorities remain on alert across north Bihar, particularly in low-lying areas along the river and its tributaries.
