By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Friday, as the situation continues to deteriorate across several districts of the state. In the capital, Patna, the relentless rise of the Ganga river in Mokama has wreaked havoc in the low-lying areas.
Earlier in July, the Chief Minister had conducted an aerial survey when the floods first hit. Now, with the floods worsening, he has once again stepped in to assess the situation. Villages including Barhapur, Kanhaypur, Hathidah, Maranchi, and Kasaha Diara in the Barh sub-divisional block are in disarray as the Ganga’s waters have entered these areas. Following reports of water inundating these villages, the Water Resources Department dispatched a team to inspect the affected areas, including Barhapur and Kasaha Diara. Departmental officials are now working intensively to prevent further erosion caused by the Ganga.
Floodwaters have devastated maize crops spread across acres, leading to significant losses for farmers. The situation is especially dire in Kasaha Diara and Janjira Diara, where officials are closely monitoring the rising water levels.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui
Meanwhile, Mokama East District Councillor Kumar Navneet Himanshu visited the flood-affected areas, urging the government to announce a relief package. Many villagers have been forced to migrate and are now taking refuge on the roadside, pleading with the sub-divisional administration for help.
Residents of several villages in Mokama West have also fled their homes, taking their livestock with them. “The government must arrange for relief, especially for animal fodder, which is a major concern,” Himanshu said.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui
Tragically, a woman drowned in Danapur Diara. The incident occurred in Manas Panchayat, where a young man had drowned just three days earlier. While fetching flour from a local mill in the Panchayat’s 62 Patti, 44-year-old Rajmati Kunwar slipped and drowned in the rising floodwaters. Despite notifying the police, the villagers have yet to receive any assistance. As of now, the search for her body, which has not yet been found, continues.
Heavy rainfall in neighbouring states continues to impact Bihar, with the Ganga still in spate. For several days, the river has been flowing above the danger mark in many places across Patna. Other rivers, including the Gandak, Budhi Gandak, and Punpun, are also at record levels this year.
The rising water levels have led to flooding in various locations, with water even reaching the National Highway. The Chief Minister has directed officials to provide all possible assistance to flood victims, and several schools in the Diara region have been closed by the district administration.
Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui
Although it has not rained in Bihar over the past few days, the tributaries of Bihar’s major rivers remain swollen. According to the Central Water Commission and the Bihar Water Resources Department, the Ganga’s water level continues to rise in many locations.
On Friday morning, the Ganga’s water level in Maner, Patna, reached 53.29 metres, exceeding the danger mark of 52 metres by 1.29 metres. At Digha Ghat, the river is currently flowing at 51.5 metres, while the danger mark there is 50.45 metres. At Gandhi Ghat in Patna, the Ganga is flowing at 50.28 metres, significantly above the 48.60-metre danger level.
In Hathidah, the danger mark stands at 41.70 metres, but the Ganga has surged to 43.27 metres. Similarly, in Munger, where the danger level is 26.50 metres, the water level has risen to 39.57 metres. The Punpun river is also flowing above the danger mark in both Arwal and Patna.
The most severe impact of the rising water levels of the Ganga and Ghaghra rivers is being felt in Saran. Water has encroached upon NH 31, and the birthplaces of Jayaprakash Narayan in Sitab Diara and Bhikhari Thakur in Qutubpur have been cut off from the district headquarters. Five blocks of Vaishali are affected by the Ganga and Gandak rivers, while the fury of the Ganga is also visible in Bhagalpur and Munger.
The Diara areas remain the worst affected by the Ganga’s rising waters. Flooding has impacted wards 1 to 12 of Ramnagari Karari Kachhar Panchayat in Athmalgola block of Patna district. Communication has been lost with several areas in Baadh, Bakhtiyarpur, and Mokama’s Diara region.
According to district officials, boats have been made available for transportation. Bind Tola in Patna has also been submerged. The Chief Minister has instructed the district administration to provide every possible form of assistance to the flood-affected population, and the Water Resources Department has issued alerts to engineers and officials to remain vigilant.
