Bihar on High Alert as Nepal Floodwaters Swell Gandak River, All 36 Barrage Gates Opened

Bihar has been placed on high alert after floodwaters from Nepal entered the Gandak river system, prompting authorities to open all 36 gates of the Gandak Barrage at Valmikinagar in West Champaran.

Officials said around 1.50 lakh cusecs of water had been discharged from the barrage by 11 pm as authorities worked to manage the increased flow. The water discharge was expected to begin receding, but emergency teams and district administrations remained on alert.

The situation developed after devastating floods and flash floods in Nepal affected river systems flowing towards Bihar. The wider disaster across the Nepal-Tibet region caused extensive destruction, with major concerns over flooding, damaged infrastructure and missing people.

The Gandak Barrage, located at Valmikinagar in Bihar's West Champaran district near the Nepal border, became a key focus of emergency monitoring as water levels increased.

Senior Bihar government officials held meetings to review the situation and coordinate preparedness measures. Authorities directed departments and district administrations to maintain continuous monitoring and ensure that rescue and relief arrangements were ready in case of further flooding.

Officials were instructed to closely monitor river water levels, embankments, bridges, low-lying areas and other vulnerable locations. District administrations were also asked to issue timely warnings to communities in sensitive areas.

According to the Water Resources Department, teams were deployed at the Gandak Barrage, along embankments and in control rooms to monitor the situation around the clock.

Authorities said opening all 36 gates of the barrage would allow the increased water flow to pass through and help manage the flood situation.

Special vigilance has been ordered in districts located within or near the Gandak river basin, including West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran, Muzaffarpur and Vaishali. Other vulnerable districts, including Sitamarhi and Sheohar, have also been placed under closer monitoring.

Emergency response preparations include the deployment and standby positioning of National Disaster Response Force teams in vulnerable areas. Additional rescue resources, including boats, evacuation plans, temporary shelters and community kitchens, are also being kept ready.

Authorities have also coordinated with security and disaster-response agencies for additional quick-response support if required.

Officials said the water level of Nepal's Narayani River at the Devghat gauge site remained below both the warning and danger levels. However, Bihar authorities continued to maintain a high level of vigilance due to the possibility of changing weather and river conditions.

The state government has appealed to residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert and follow instructions issued by local authorities while avoiding panic.

As floodwaters from Nepal continue to move through the Gandak river system, Bihar has intensified monitoring and emergency preparedness across districts that could be affected by a further rise in water levels.