Patna/Bettiah: Flood fears intensified across the Gandak basin on Sunday as rising discharge from the Valmikinagar barrage inundated several low-lying areas of West Champaran and entered the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), raising concerns over wildlife and the possibility of animals moving towards human settlements.The barrage discharge rose from 4.16 lakh cusecs in the morning to 4.49 lakh cusecs by afternoon, while 4.62 lakh cusecs downstream was recorded during the monsoon so far. The district administration later reported 4.75 lakh cusecs released downstream. The discharge is expected to rise further. The highest level recorded in 2024 was 5.62 lakh cusecs.Heavy rainfall in Nepal has driven the rise. According to the Gandak barrage control room at Valmikinagar, 6.74 lakh cusecs was released from Devghat in Nepal on Sunday afternoon.Low-lying areas of Bagaha town, including Kailash Nagar and Kalighat, and villages such as Chakdahwa, Bin Toli and Jhandahwa Tola under Valmikinagar police station have been inundated. Floodwater has also started flowing over the Bagaha-Valmikinagar main road, NH-727, at Bhedihari. Around seven to eight blocks in West Champaran are likely to be affected.The flooding has raised concerns over herbivores such as chital, sambar, barking deer (kakar) and hog deer, besides wild boar. Tigers, leopards and bears, along with smaller mammals and reptiles, may also be affected.Valmikinagar range officer Satyam Kumar said, “In case of flooding in the VTR, inundation of low-lying areas is most likely to affect herbivores and smaller animals. The major species likely to be affected include chital, sambar, barking deer (kakar) and hog deer among the deer species, besides wild boar. Among carnivores, tigers, leopards and bears may also be affected. Small mammals and reptiles affected by flooding in the Gandak river are also among them.”He added, “When floodwaters fill the forest, these animals generally move towards safer places, which are available in the higher areas of the forest. It is rarely seen that these wild animals migrate towards residential areas in search of safe shelter and food. The forest department’s patrolling teams are continuously monitoring these areas so that if any animal moves towards residential areas, it can be driven back towards the forest.”The district administration has stepped up relief and rescue measures. A community kitchen has been opened at Bherihari High School and medical teams put on alert. A 30-member NDRF team with four boats has been stationed in Bagaha-2, while two eight-member SDRF teams with four boats have also been deployed. Two more eight-member teams with two boats each are positioned in Madhubani block and Bettiah subdivision.Deputy CM and water resources department minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said, “The sudden increase in the discharge is due to the high rainfall received in the catchment areas of Gandak in Nepal in the last 24 hours. The WRD engineers have been put on high alert and they have been directed to maintain vigil on both the left and right embankments of Gandak.”He said the Ganga was below danger level from Buxar to Kahalgaon and could absorb the additional Gandak water.In Muzaffarpur, a cut in the Tirhut canal near Raska South village was being repaired by water resources department engineers. In contrast, the Kosi flood threat eased, with Birpur barrage discharge falling to 2.13 lakh cusecs.
