Rising waters of the Gandak River have unleashed widespread devastation across the Saran district of Bihar, submerging numerous panchayats overnight. The sharp and sudden increase in water levels has severely impacted regional connectivity, completely drowning a significant stretch of National Highway 722, which connects Chhapra with Muzaffarpur. Near Maker, a 3 to 4-kilometer section of this vital highway now lies submerged under 3 to 5 feet of surging floodwater, bringing all vehicular movement along the corridor to a complete standstill.
Highway Inundation and Stranded Communities
The sudden inundation of the highway and its surrounding low-lying areas has trapped local residents within their settlements. As floodwaters entered residential premises, families found themselves marooned without immediate means of transit. To evacuate those stranded in deep water, the district administration mobilized teams from the NDRF and SDRF equipped with several motorboats. Despite these operations, affected villagers have pointed out that the current deployment of rescue personnel is inadequate relative to the massive scale of the disaster, calling for a swift reinforcement of rescue personnel and vessels on the ground.
Difficult Evacuations Across Swollen Waters
Conditions across the flooded belt remain extremely precarious. Residents who could not secure government rescue boats in time were forced to risk their lives by wading on foot through strong currents to reach higher ground. Families were seen guiding their cattle through inundated paths to shield livestock from drowning. Amid the unfolding crisis, rescue efforts also witnessed acts of individual dedication, including a police personnel carrying two young children in his arms across the waters to safety.
Breach at Haijalpur Triggers Catastrophe
According to local residents, the disaster was triggered by damage to an embankment at Haijalpur in the Maker block, which allowed the river to pour unchecked into human habitations. Villagers noted that although floodwaters had spilled onto the national highway previously in 2020, the scale of destruction did not match the current crisis. Thousands of households have been severely hit by the present deluge, with families forced to abandon their homes, belongings, and livelihoods in a desperate bid to survive.
