Gandak reaches a record 91.25 metres at Bagaha; embankments breach in Saran, Gopalganj and Muzaffarpur

State Focus Bihar Geography Environment & Climate Polity & Governance

Gandak reaches a record 91.25 metres at Bagaha; embankments breach in Saran, Gopalganj and Muzaffarpur

30 September 2026

Heavy rainfall in Nepal's Gandak basin pushed the Gandak to 91.25 metres at Bagaha in West Champaran, above the previous highest flood level of 90.90 metres set on 29 September 2024, the Bihar Water Resources Department said. The river's highest flood discharge of 2026, 5,43,500 cusecs (5.435 lakh), had been recorded at Valmikinagar on 28 September. Embankments were breached in Saran and Gopalganj (Sheetalpur-Banjariya), and a ring embankment of the Tirhut Main Embankment breached in Muzaffarpur. More than 200 villages were affected, and the Chief Minister made an aerial survey of West Champaran to direct relief and rescue operations.

Record level at Bagaha: 91.25 metres Previous high (29 Sep 2024): 90.90 metres Peak 2026 discharge at Valmikinagar (28 Sep): 5,43,500 cusecs Villages affected: More than 200

Why it matters for exams: Transboundary rivers, barrages and embankments of north Bihar are core disaster-management and geography topics.

UPSC

30 September 2026 Source: ThePrint (PTI)

In plain words

Cusec Cubic feet per second — A unit of river discharge.

Barrage Gated river structure — It regulates the flow of water downstream.