Bihar floods cause 20 deaths and trigger railway safety alerts

Severe flooding caused by rising water levels in the Ganges, Kosi, and Gandak rivers has led to at least 20 deaths across several districts in Bihar. The flooding has impacted multiple regions, including Patna, Saran, Bhojpur, Vaishali, and Bhagalpur, with 12 districts currently placed on high alert by the state government.

In response to the rising water, railway authorities have implemented safety measures on the Jamalpur-Bhagalpur section. To ensure passenger safety, train speeds have been reduced from 110 km/h to a maximum of 30 km/h in sensitive areas where the Ganges has risen above danger levels. While tracks and bridges are currently reported as safe, monsoon patrolling and special monitoring teams remain deployed.

Infrastructure damage has been reported, including the breach of embankments near Saran and the collapse of a bridge in Purnia district. Relief and rescue operations are underway, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) deployed to vulnerable locations.