Gandak floods Bihar’s West Champaran as three embankments breach, creates panic among residents

After heavy rains in catchment areas in Nepal, flood in Gandak river, known as Narayani in Nepal, breached at least three embankments in last two-days in West Champaran district of Bihar on Indo-Nepal border and created panic among residents.

The breaches from Monday (September 28, 2026) night to Tuesday (September 29, 2026) morning inundated low-lying areas and agricultural fields, and also flooded Bagaha town area.

The Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati, and Sone rivers are in spate, with rising water levels posing a threat to Bihar’s border districts.

Following the heavy discharge of water from the Valmikinagar barrage along the border area, the first breach occurred at Kharatwa Daroga Chowk under Singhari Pipariya panchayat in Bagaha on September 28 night, while the second breach was reported near Phulia Khad village in Bairia block.

The third embankment breach occurred on September 29 morning near Makari Tesarahiya village leading to floodwaters gushing into nearly half a dozen surrounding villages like Chakhani, Rjwatia, Pipariya, Bargaon, Belwa, Dumaria, Patilar, Ratwal, Lgunaha and others.

A record 5.43 lakh cusecs of water was discharged from Valmikinagar barrage on September 28.

Several eports noted that a ring bandha (embankment) near Pandey Tola in Shreya Panchayat of Areraj Block in East Champaran district was breached in the wee hours of September 30. However, officials have not confirmed it yet.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has been conducting aerial surveys of the affected areas and giving instructions to the top district official for speedy relief and rescue measures.

In the affected areas of West Champaran district, affected families have taken shelter on elevated spaces of the embankments.

There are also reports of villagers themselves breaching embankments to allow floodwaters to spread over a larger area to minimize intensity of the damage.

The district administration has launched a day-night patrolling on the embankments in the district to prevent further breach.

Principal Secretary of the State Disaster Management Department (DMD) Santosh Kumar Mall said one company each of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) had been dispatched to the affected areas. “Besides, two companies of NDRF and SDRF are already stationed in the Champaran districts to meet any eventuality”, he said.

DMD officials said the water levels in the swollen rivers has shown declining trend, bringing relief to the residents.

“The administration of adjoining districts has also been put on high alert following the surge in river waters”, an official said.

Relief camps have been set up in the affected areas, including one at a high school in Bathana village of Bairiya block. “As many as 23 community kitchens are running in all across West Champaran district,” said Taranjot Singh, the District Magistrate, adding that water levels have started receding in parts of Bagaha subdivision, where floodwaters had entered even the town areas.

Meanwhile, residents of affected villages were seen running from one elevated location to another, carrying their belongings and livestock. Black colour tarpaulin sheets have been distributed among them by the district administration.

“Destiny has played a cruel joke on us by flooding our villages and home”, said Sanjay Dubey, a resident of Bagaha who was taking shelter on an embankment.

Earlier, the Ganga and several of its tributaries had also swollen, flooding areas like Punpun and Hatidah in Patna district. Subsequently, the waters receded without any major casualties. However, with heavy rainfall continuing in the catchment areas of neighboring Nepal, Bihar’s border districts are once again facing a flood threat as rivers swell across the region.

Embankments in Gopalganj and Saran districts too have breached at some places. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary conducted another aerial survey of the flood affected areas of Champaran on Wednesday (September 30, 2026).