Patna: Bihar is facing a severe flood threat as the Ganga crossed its previous highest flood level at Gandhi Ghat, while several rivers continue to rise following heavy rainfall in Bihar, Jharkhand and neighbouring Nepal.
The Ganga rose 10 cm in four hours to 50.53 metres at Gandhi Ghat by 10 am on Saturday, one centimetre above the previous record of 50.52 metres set in 2016.
The Water Resources Department expects it could reach 50.62 metres by Sunday. At Pandarak, the river also crossed its previous record. Bihar received 60.8 mm rainfall in September so far, 69% above normal.
More than 10.26 lakh people across 11 districts, including Patna, Vaishali, Begusarai and Bhagalpur, have been affected.
Homes, roads, markets and farmland are submerged, with residents in Begusarai and Vaishali using boats for evacuation. The Ganga, Ghaghra and Punpun are above danger levels at several locations.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary conducted an aerial survey and reviewed relief operations.
Authorities have deployed 858 boats, 27 SDRF and seven NDRF teams, 38 community kitchens, and distributed ration and relief materials. People have been advised to avoid floodwaters, stay away from electricity poles and disinfect drinking water.
Delhi-NCR received heavy rain, causing waterlogging and traffic disruptions, including near IGI Airport.
An orange alert was issued. Uttar Pradesh has over 3.53 lakh flood-affected people across 26 districts, while Himachal Pradesh reported 102 road closures. Heavy to very heavy rain is also forecast in parts of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.
