Bihar faces severe Ganga flooding and rapid loss of natural lakes

Severe flooding caused by the rising levels of the Ganga River continues to impact Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. While official data from the Bihar Water Resources Department indicates a slight decrease in water levels in areas such as Varanasi, Buxar, and Bhagalpur, the ground reality remains critical. In Bhagalpur, flooding has submerged major infrastructure, including NH-80 and sections of a four-lane highway, leading authorities to implement road closures.

The flooding has resulted in fatalities in Bhagalpur, where five people, including four children, reportedly died after drowning in water-filled pits in Koyli Khutaha village.

Parallel to the immediate flood crisis, recent data from the Planning and Development Department reveals a long-term water resource crisis in Bihar. A census of water bodies shows that approximately 90% of the state's lakes have disappeared over the last six years. In 2018-19, 2,693 lakes were recorded across 38 districts, but the 2024-25 census found only 258 remaining. Ten districts, including Arwal and Begusarai, reported having no lakes at all, highlighting a significant environmental shift in the region.