Floods affect 49 lakh people across 15 Bihar districts as rivers swell

Severe flooding has impacted approximately 49 lakh (4.9 million) people across 15 districts in Bihar as multiple rivers continue to swell beyond their normal levels. The deluge has submerged agricultural lands, damaged infrastructure, and displaced thousands of families seeking shelter in relief camps across the affected regions.

The Indian Meteorological Department's local office attributed the floods to above-normal rainfall, with Bihar recording 111.7 mm of precipitation so far in September—approximately 13% higher than the seasonal average. The excess moisture combined with monsoon systems has led to rapid water accumulation in river basins across the state.

Districts along major river systems including the Ganga and its tributaries have borne the brunt of the inundation. Authorities have activated emergency response mechanisms, establishing relief camps and deploying rescue teams to affected areas. The state administration has appealed for additional resources to manage the humanitarian crisis as water levels remain elevated.

Farmers across the region face significant crop losses as standing water submerges fields during the critical growing season. Local officials have cautioned that water levels may remain high for several more days as upstream catchment areas continue to receive rainfall. Meteorological forecasts indicate another spell of precipitation in the coming days, potentially prolonging the flooding situation.