Ganga continues to be flooded in Bihar, Brahmaputra becoming concern

New Delhi:  For the second consecutive week, the main Ganga is flowing in a severe flood situation, due to combined effect of river runoff from the Yamuna and its northern tributaries, while heavy rains predicted in the catchment of Brahmaputra and its tributaries for next two to three days have prompted the Central Water Commission (CWC) to put the region’s states, especially West Bengal and Assam, on alert.
As per the CWC Flood Forecasting Network on Sunday, one station in Bihar is is in ‘Extreme Flood Situation’, 31 stations — 21 are in Bihar, six in Uttar Pradesh, two in Assam and one each in Jharkhand and West Bengal — are in ‘Severe Flood Situation’ and 25 stations – 10 in Bihar, six in Uttar Pradesh, seven in Assam and one each in Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal – are flowing in ‘Above Normal Flood Situation’.
The CWC has issued ‘Inflow Forecast’ for 14 barrages and dams – five in Karnataka, two each in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, and one in West Bengal, the CWC flood forecasting and advisory bulletin said on Sunday.
The main Ganga stem is flowing in severe flood situations in Ghazipur (Uttar Pradesh) to Murshirabad (West Bengal) districts. From Ghazipur to Ballia (UP), the river is in falling to steady state, whereas from Patna and downstream, it is flowing with rising trend.
“Alert may be kept in districts of Varanasi, Ghazipur, and Ballia (UP), Buxar, Patna, Munger, Bhagalpur (Bihar), Sahibganj (Jharkhand), and Malda and Murshirabad (West Bengal). Propagating peak inflow will further increase the water level of main Ganga stem in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal in next 2 to 3 days,” the CWC said.
Currently, Ganga, at CWC site Hathidah in Patna district, is flowing above high flood level with the water level at 4 p.m. observed at 43.45 m and expected water level at 8 a.m. on Monday is 43.49 m. Rate of water level rise has decreased, hence its expected to steady in one or two days, it said.