Politics · India Bureau
Gandak river water levels fall as Nepal flood surge subsides in Bihar
Water levels in the Gandak river have begun receding after flash flooding in Nepal sent a surge across the border into Bihar on Wednesday. The decline brings relief to residents in low-lying areas of the state's northern districts.
LSN India ·
The Gandak river, which swelled dangerously after monsoon-triggered floods in Nepal, showed signs of normalisation on Thursday as water levels began dropping across northern Bihar. The receding trend provided respite to communities in low-lying regions that faced inundation risks from the transboundary waterway, according to state water resources officials.
The peak discharge from the Gandak Barrage at Valmikinagar in West Champaran district—Bihar's northernmost region bordering Nepal—reached 1.50 lakh cusecs at 11 pm Wednesday. By Thursday morning, the outflow had declined to 1.04 lakh cusecs, indicating the immediate flood threat was subsiding.
On Wednesday, Bihar's disaster management authorities declared a high alert after floodwaters from Nepal entered the Gandak river system and approached Valmikinagar barrage. Responding to the surge, officials opened all 36 gates of the barrage to manage the unprecedented water volume and prevent breaches that could have caused widespread damage downstream.
The decline in discharge levels suggests the acute phase of the Nepal-triggered flooding event has passed. Authorities in West Champaran and neighbouring districts continue monitoring river conditions as the system returns to normal levels.