Why Bihar Floods Every Year: Nepal, Gandak and the High Dam Question

"The Honourable Chief Minister conducted an aerial survey. A surface-level inspection was conducted too... This time too, 6-7 districts that were plagued by floods will be under surveillance," Ram Kripal Yadav said, adding that people in these areas would be given all basic needs and that "the government stands fully with the farmers."

A Second Phase, Near-Record Discharge

JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said the state is facing a second phase of severe floods. "This is the second phase of the severe flood situation, with a discharge of around 5.5 lakh cusecs of water and around six districts badly affected."

That figure is close to the Gandak barrage's recent record. The highest discharge this year until late August was 2.24 lakh cusecs on July 14, while 5.625 lakh cusecs was recorded on September 28, 2024, one of the heaviest flows in recent years.

Prasad said embankment protection, relief camps, community kitchens and evacuation protocols are in place, based on the SOP prepared under former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He urged residents not to panic and to follow district administration guidelines.

Why It Matters: The Nepal Factor

Bihar's floods are shaped far beyond its borders. The Gandak, known as the Narayani in Nepal, enters Bihar at Valmikinagar in West Champaran, where a barrage controls its flow, and then passes through East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan and Saran before joining the Ganga near Sonepur.

This season has already shown how sudden that risk can be. In late August, a massive flash flood originating in Tibet swept through central Nepal, killing nearly 100 people, and Nepal's Foreign Minister said an earthquake in Tibet may have triggered a glacial outburst. The surge forced authorities to open all 36 gates of the Gandak barrage.

The High Dam Demand

JD(U) national general secretary Shyam Rajak said the long-term solution lies upstream. "When glaciers break in Nepal and water flows down from there, Bihar, being a Terai region, is naturally at greater risk. We have been demanding for a long time that a high dam be built in coordination with Nepal, so that Bihar as well as the country can be protected. The Government of India has now accepted this demand."

He added that NDRF and SDRF teams, the district administration and the Water Resources Department are working around the clock.

The Opposition's Criticism

The government's response has not gone unchallenged. Earlier this month, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav visited flood-hit areas of his constituency, Raghopur, in Vaishali, and accused the state government of leaving people to fend for themselves.

What Residents Should Do

• Follow instructions from the district administration and move to safe places when asked.
• Track local weather alerts, especially in the 12 north Bihar districts under a yellow alert, where rain and thunderstorms with winds of around 30 kmph are expected.
• Use government relief camps and community kitchens where available.

Bihar's leaders describe the floods as a yearly cycle of loss and rebuilding. Relief measures may soften this season's blow, but as long as the rivers from Nepal remain unmanaged upstream, the state is likely to face the same crisis again next year.

With inputs from IANS.