Patna, August 26: The Bihar government has heightened its alert in response to rising water flow in the Gandak River, triggered by flash floods in Nepal’s upper catchment areas. Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary announced on Wednesday that the government is prepared to tackle the situation, as continuous updates are being received from Nepal regarding water flow.
Chaudhary reported that there are indications of a glacier burst in the region bordering Tibet, which is causing water to flow into the Narayani River, known as the Gandak River in Bihar. He noted that the situation appears to be serious, with the Nepalese government providing ongoing assessments of potential water flow and its impacts. According to their estimates, the water level at Devghat could rise by nearly three meters.
Devghat is a key point for assessing the potential water flow into the Gandak River. Currently, the water level there is about 4.7 meters. If it rises by three meters, it could reach approximately 7.5 meters. Levels above eight to nine meters are considered extremely dangerous. The Nepalese government anticipates that water from the glacier will reach Devghat within the next two to three hours.
The Deputy Chief Minister acknowledged the challenges posed by the situation but assured that the government would not allow it to spiral out of control based on available assessments. Presently, the water flow from Bihar into the Gandak is less than 100,000 cusecs, with projections estimating additional inflow could reach around 150,000 cusecs. Thus, total water flow is unlikely to exceed 250,000 to 300,000 cusecs.
In light of the potential situation, all necessary flood management measures have been completed. Officials from the affected districts are on-site, monitoring the situation closely. An additional team of flood management experts was dispatched on Wednesday afternoon. Water is expected to reach the barrage about four hours after arriving at Devghat, making Wednesday night critical.
Chaudhary urged residents not to panic but to remain vigilant. The government will provide timely updates to the public regarding the situation.
Meanwhile, in response to the flash floods in Nepal and the potential threat to Bihar, opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav has advised the government to remain alert. He emphasized the need to inform residents in vulnerable and affected areas of the districts bordering the river. Yadav called for continuous monitoring and readiness for emergency relief operations, urging the government to ensure 24-hour surveillance of the embankments and focus on their strength and safety. He also appealed to RJD workers to raise awareness among communities in districts linked to the Gandak River.
He encouraged local residents in West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran, Muzaffarpur, and Vaishali to stay informed and alert.
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