Bihar floods remain grim as 2.24 million people are affected

Bihar’s flood crisis worsened on Sunday as the Ganga and its tributaries continued to rise across Patna and surrounding areas, fueled by heavy rain in Bihar and neighboring Jharkhand.

The Ganga exceeded previous highest flood levels at several points in the state capital. At Gandhi Ghat, the river reached 50.57 meters, 0.05 meters above the August 2016 mark. Levels also exceeded previous records at Pandarak, Danapur and Banka Ghat. Downstream stations, including Hathidah, remained under close watch.

Other rivers, including the Gandak, Kosi, Budhi Gandak, Punpun, Bagmati and Ghaghra, were also flowing above danger marks. The disaster management department said rising waters had affected about 2.24 million people in 12 districts, covering 70 blocks and 368 village councils.

Rail traffic suffered a major disruption after water from the Punpun partially submerged a bridge girder near Punpun Ghat station. Local trains were suspended, while several express services were cancelled or diverted by East Central Railway. In Patna’s Masaurhi block, embankments and ring bunds gave way at several locations under pressure from the Punpun and its tributaries.

Relief operations expanded as the flooding continued. The disaster management department reported 190 community kitchens, up from about 80 a day earlier, serving roughly 251,000 meals. Twenty-seven State Disaster Response Force teams and 10 National Disaster Response Force teams remained deployed, while the number of medical camps rose to 171. Opposition leaders, including RJD’s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, called for the floods to be declared a national disaster.