Authorities in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh issued high-alert warnings this week after flash floods in Nepal's Rasuwa district caused river levels to surge.
The situation poses a significant risk to downstream communities, as the sudden influx of water from the Nepalese catchment areas threatens to inundate residential and agricultural lands across the border.
Torrential rains in Nepal have caused the Gandak and Narayani rivers to swell [2, 3]. While some reports emphasize the threat from these two rivers [4], other weather data indicates the Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati, Kamla Balan, and Mahananda rivers are all in spate [3].
In Bihar, the government has placed between six and eight districts on high alert [1, 2]. The districts identified as most at risk include West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran, Muzaffarpur, and Vaishali [2].
"The NDRF is on 'high alert' in the eventuality of flash floods in Nepal causing water levels to surge in the Gandak river and inundate border areas of Bihar," a National Disaster Response Force spokesperson said [1].
In Uttar Pradesh, the focus remains on the border regions. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed authorities in the Maharajganj and Kushinagar districts to take necessary precautions [2].
"Residents living near the river are urged to remain alert," a Bihar Disaster Management Department spokesperson said [2].
Emergency teams are currently monitoring water levels as the next 24 to 48 hours remain critical for the region [4]. The deployment of the NDRF aims to ensure rapid evacuation and rescue operations should the rivers breach their banks.
“The NDRF is on 'high alert' in the eventuality of flash floods in Nepal causing water levels to surge.”
The recurring nature of these floods highlights the vulnerability of the Indo-Nepal border regions to climate-driven extreme weather. Because the Gandak and Narayani rivers originate in the Himalayas, sudden flash floods in Nepal create a cascading effect that leaves downstream Indian states with very little lead time to evacuate populations, necessitating the high-alert status of the NDRF.
