Bihar: Ganga 1.43m above red mark in Bhagalpur

PATNA: The Ganga was flowing 1.43-metre above the danger level at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district on Friday. The water level in the river, however, continued to show declining trend at all other places in the state.
The Ganga water was seen accumulating in its eastern stretch in Bhagalpur and Katihar districts up to the Farakka barrage. The river was in menacing form along the 60km eastern stretch from Bhagalpur.The flood situation has not yet eased in Begusarai and Munger districts.
At present, the areas worst affected are in Kahalgaon and Pirpainty blocks in southern Bhagalpur, Gopalpur, Rangda, Naugachhia, Kharik and Bihpur blocks in north Bhagalpur and Kursela, Barari and other areas in Katihar district.
The three rivers which carry their water into the area are Kosi, Ganga and Mahananda, which are flowing above the danger level in this stretch. Due to the expected rain in the basins of the rivers in Bihar and also in Nepal till August 23, the flood situation might get exacerbated along the Ganga basin, again, it is feared.
The water resources department (WRD) is also working on meeting the challenge during the third peak that might occur in the last week of August or early September.
On Friday, the Ganga was flowing below the danger level only at Buxar and Digha, while the water level is expected to slide below the danger level at Gandhi Ghat on Saturday, as the fall is expected to be by 43cm. Otherwise, the river was flowing 90cm above the danger level at Hathidah and 84cm at Bhagalpur.