Patna: Floodwaters continued to rise across Bihar on Sunday as heavy rainfall pushed nine rivers above their danger marks, forcing thousands to evacuate and disrupting rail services between Patna and Gaya.
More than 6.65 lakh people have been affected across 18 districts, including Patna, as flood conditions intensified. The Punpun River has been particularly aggressive, rising by 28 centimetres in the past 24 hours. At Sripalpur, it is flowing 2.57 metres above the danger mark.
Rail Services Disrupted
The river’s swelling has already impacted rail operations. Near Jat Dumri on the Patna-Gaya section, water from the Punpun has reached Bridge No. 21. The Railways has suspended down-line services as a precaution. The Ganga Damodar Express will run via Fatuha, Islampur and Tilaiya, while the Buddha Purnima Express has been diverted through Ara and Buxar. Several other trains are running three to four hours late. Normal operations will resume only after safety inspections confirm the tracks are fit.
Residents along the Punpun have begun moving to higher ground.
Ganga River Conditions
The Ganga is also straining its banks. At Bhagalpur, the river sits 32 centimetres above the danger level. At Kahalgaon, it is 82 centimetres over the mark. In Khagaria, residents in vulnerable areas are relocating, taking their livestock with them.
Eastern Bihar Flooding
Further east, flooding has spread through multiple communities. In Saran’s Dighwara, a section of the Mahi River embankment has breached, sending floodwater into surrounding areas. Floodwaters have reached NH-19 near Chhapra, halting road traffic. In Begusarai’s Simaria Bind Toli, more than 1,000 houses have been submerged. Six blocks in Munger are affected by the rising Ganga, and roads in the Lal Darwaza area sit under three to four feet of water.
Weather Alerts and Forecasts
The Meteorological Centre has placed 24 districts under weather alerts as rainfall continues. An orange alert—the more severe warning—covers Supaul, Araria, Saharsa, Madhepura, Kishanganj, Purnia and Katihar, where conditions are expected to deteriorate. Heavy rainfall has been specifically forecast for Araria, Kishanganj and Katihar. A yellow alert is in effect for 17 districts: West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Munger, Jamui and Banka. Those districts could see gusts around 40 kilometres per hour, thunderstorms and lightning.
Patna itself is expected to remain unsettled through September 9. Cloudy skies and occasional light rain are likely, with a chance of lightning. Maximum temperatures should hold near 32 to 33 degrees Celsius, with minimums between 26 and 27 degrees. Neighbouring districts Bhojpur, Buxar, Gaya, Nalanda and Aurangabad may also receive light rain.
Kaimur recorded the state’s highest maximum temperature on Saturday at 36.9 degrees Celsius. Aurangabad followed at 35.5 degrees, and Gaya at 33.8 degrees. Among rainfall totals over the preceding 24 hours, Nautan in Siwan led with 80.8 millimetres.
Authorities are maintaining watch over affected areas and critical infrastructure as more rain moves through the region.
Nine rivers have pushed past danger levels across Bihar, affecting over 6.65 lakh people. Floodwaters have breached embankments, submerged roads and halted rail services between Patna and Gaya.