India

Flood Crisis Deepens In Bihar’s West Champaran District Amid Rising River Levels

The flood situation in West Champaran’s Bairia block, Bihar, has reached a critical juncture due to escalating water levels in the Gandak River and severe soil erosion threatening vital embankments.

The erosion, particularly near Bettiah, poses a substantial risk of flooding to nearby villages, and despite repeated complaints from locals, the response from the Water Resources Department has deemed insufficient.

The rising water levels, driven by persistent rainfall in both Nepal and West Champaran, have intensified the Gandak River’s flow, with the water level at Dumaria Ghat just 2 cm shy of the danger mark at 62.20 meters.

Other rivers in the region, including the Kosi, Bagmati, and Burhi Gandak, are also flowing above critical levels in several locations.

Sanjay Kumar Singh, Executive Engineer of the Water Resources Department in Bettiah, assured that authorities are expediting anti-erosion measures.

“We are deploying sandbags along the Gandak River to combat soil erosion and protect the embankment. Our priority is to secure the embankment, and we will take action against any officials who fail to address villagers’ concerns,” Singh stated.

However, villagers argue that the current measures are inadequate.

RC Singh, a resident of Singhi Gram Panchayat, described the situation as dire, emphasizing that the sandbags placed so far have been insufficient to prevent further erosion.

“The gap between the river and the embankment is dangerously narrow. Villagers are growing increasingly anxious as conditions worsen, and immediate, more effective action is required to avert a disaster,” Singh said.

Rising River Levels Intensify Flood Threat

Rising levels in other major rivers are compounding the flood threat.

The Kosi River, in particular, is a major concern, flowing 44 cm above the danger level in Baltara block of Khagaria district at 34.29 meters, and 15 cm above the danger level in Kursela block of Katihar district at 30.15 meters.

Additionally, the Bagmati River in Benibad block of Muzaffarpur district has exceeded the danger mark by 2 cm, reaching 48.70 meters, while the Burhi Gandak River is 1 cm above the danger level at 36.59 meters in Khagaria City.

As the flood situation continues to deteriorate, the urgency for a comprehensive and effective response is paramount to prevent widespread devastation in the affected areas.

Also Read: Heavy Police Presence In Shimla Ahead Of Mosque Construction Protest

Mankrit Kaur

Recent Posts

Delhi’s Air Quality Deteriorates; Several Areas Enter ‘Severe’ Category

Delhi's air quality worsened on Tuesday as the Air Quality Index (AQI) fell into the…

31 mins ago

Joe Biden And Jill Biden Confirm Attendance At Donald Trump’s Inauguration

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will attend inauguration of President-elect Donald…

43 mins ago

Protests Against Vaishno Devi Ropeway Suspended After Talks With Government

Protests against the proposed ropeway project at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, Jammu,…

51 mins ago

IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Historic Deals, Record Signings, And Young Talent Steal The Spotlight

IPL 2025 Mega Auction concluded with historic moments, including Rishabh Pant’s record-breaking ₹27 crore signing…

59 mins ago

Rashmi Shukla Reappointed As Maharashtra DGP After MahaYuti’s Return To Power

Senior IPS officer Rashmi Shukla reappointed as Director General of Police (DGP) for Maharashtra after…

1 hour ago

Delhi Pollution: SC Orders Action On GRAP Violations, Directs Relief For Affected Workers

The SC on Monday instructed CAQM to act against officers and entities failing to enforce…

12 hours ago