Cross-Border Rainfall Threatens Flood Control, Calls for Vigilance

According to Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, the deputy chief minister, unexpected monsoon showers over Nepal have created a new challenge for flood control in Bihar. The Gandak River’s discharge surged to a record level, and the Ganga registered a series of new high‑flow marks from Patna’s Gandhi Ghat up to Bhagalpur.

The continuous pressure on the Gandak for more than ten days caused back‑water accumulation in the Kosi, Ghaghara, Kamla and Mahananda basins. This phenomenon raises the water table in surrounding low‑lying areas, increasing the risk of embankment breaches.

Chaudhary warned that as long as the source rivers remain uncontrolled, any temporary fix on the Ganga’s banks will be insufficient. He advocated for the construction of high‑level dams on the trans‑border rivers as a lasting remedy, a proposal that has received preliminary support from both the Union and Bihar governments.

Nevertheless, the lack of coordinated flood‑mitigation measures with Nepal has slowed the implementation of these projects. The minister urged Nepalese authorities to engage constructively, emphasizing that regional cooperation is essential to safeguard millions of lives and livelihoods in the flood‑prone zones of North‑East India.