The Bihar government has sounded a flood alert along the swollen Kosi, Gandak and Ganga rivers in the north and central parts of the state following the release of water from the Valmikinagar and Birpur barrages on Saturday, a senior official said.
A total of 5.7 cusec of water was released from the Birpur Barrage on the Kosi River till noon, the highest amount in the past, Santosh Kumar Mall, Principal Secretary of the State Water Department told PTI.
He added that all safety measures are being ensured to protect the poles.
Similarly, 4.20 lakh cusecs of water was released from Valmikinagar Barrage till noon.
“The water level of several rivers has been rising across the country, following continuous rains for the past two-three days. Incessant rain in catchment areas in Nepal has also led to rivers touching or flowing above the danger level in several areas of the border regions,” said a senior official.
After the release of large amounts of water from these two barrages, most of the river water entered the low-lying areas of Jogapatti, Nautan, Gaunaha, Bagaha-1, Bagaha-2, Ramnagar, Majhaulia and Narkatiaganj blocks in West Champaran and a few areas of East Champaran. , officials said.
The alert has already sounded in several districts of Bihar as the IMD has predicted heavy rain and warned of the risk of low to moderate floods in some parts of the state.
Heavy rain is likely in West and East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Vaishali, Patna, Jehanabad, Madhubani and Bhojpur districts, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) report issued on Friday.
“These districts are at risk of low or moderate flooding in the next 24 hours,” he said.
The disaster management department has asked district administrations to remain alert and take precautionary measures after this forecast.
About 12 districts located along the Ganga, including Buxar, Bhojpur, Saran, Patna, Samastipur, Begusarai, Munger and Bhagalpur, are already facing a flood-like situation, while about 13.5 lakh people living in low-lying areas are affected by the rise. Water levels in rivers, following heavy rains, officials said.
They said that a large number of people from the affected regions were evacuated and brought to relief camps.