Patna: Bihar’s flood situation has shown signs of slight improvement, with water discharge in the Kosi and Son rivers declining and the Gandak remaining stable. However, several major rivers continue to flow above the danger mark, with around 34.31 lakh people affected across 13 districts.
Kosi and Son Show Falling Trend
According to the Disaster Management Department, the Kosi’s discharge at the Birpur Barrage stood at 1,69,985 cusecs at 10 am on Tuesday and was showing a declining trend.
The Son recorded a discharge of 1,04,758 cusecs at the Indrapuri Barrage, also with a falling trend. At the Valmikinagar Barrage, the Gandak’s discharge was 1,04,400 cusecs and remained stable.
The Ganga at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur stood at 36.80 metres, 0.05 metres above its previous highest flood level of 36.75 metres recorded on August 17, 2021. Its trend, however, remained stable.
The Gandak, Kosi, Burhi Gandak, Ganga, Punpun, Bagmati and Ghaghara are still flowing above the danger mark at several locations.
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34.31 Lakh People Affected
Flooding has affected around 34.31 lakh people across 480 gram panchayats in 79 blocks of 13 districts — Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Lakhisarai, Khagaria and Arwal.
The state continues to focus on food, shelter, transportation and emergency assistance in the affected areas.
Over 1 Million People Get Meals Twice a Day
A total of 432 community kitchens are operating in the flood-hit areas. More than 1 million affected people have already received meals twice a day.
Fourteen relief camps are also providing accommodation, food and medical facilities to 12,294 flood-affected people. Children are being given milk, while sanitary kits are being provided to women at the camps.
Relief Material and Rescue Support
The Disaster Management Department has distributed 1.29 lakh polythene sheets and 22,900 dry ration packets among affected families. Around 3,142 quintals of cattle fodder have also been distributed.
For transportation and movement in flood-hit areas, 1,832 boats are currently operating. The rescue response includes 27 SDRF teams and 10 NDRF teams deployed across different districts.
Rainfall Remains a Concern
Bihar recorded 601 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 8, which is 27% below normal for the period. However, rainfall in September so far has been 31% above normal.
The weather forecast indicates light to moderate rainfall at many places over the next two days, with heavy rainfall possible at some locations.
While the falling discharge of the Kosi and Son offers some relief, the continued high water levels of several rivers mean that flood monitoring and relief operations remain critical across Bihar.
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