📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Pinakpani
Weather
Bihar urges West Bengal to open all Farakka Barrage gates as Ganga water rises
✍️ News On AIR
🗓 27 Aug 2026, 11:40 PM
👁 3
The Bihar government has appealed to West Bengal to fully open the Farakka Barrage gates, citing a rapid rise in the Ganga’s water level.
Patna – Officials of the Bihar state administration wrote to the West Bengal government on Monday, asking that all gates of the Farakka Barrage be opened immediately. The appeal comes as the water level of the Ganga River has risen sharply in recent days, prompting concerns about potential flooding in downstream districts of Bihar.
The Farakka Barrage, located on the Ganga in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, regulates the flow of water between the two states. Bihar’s water resources department warned that a continued rise could overwhelm embankments and affect agricultural lands and settlements along the riverbank.
Bihar’s chief minister’s office said the request is purely a safety measure and does not reflect any political dispute. It urged West Bengal to act swiftly to prevent any adverse impact on lives and property. West Bengal authorities have not yet issued a formal response.
If the gates are opened, the increased discharge is expected to lower the water level in Bihar’s stretch of the Ganga, providing temporary relief while longer‑term flood management plans are evaluated.
The Farakka Barrage, located on the Ganga in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, regulates the flow of water between the two states. Bihar’s water resources department warned that a continued rise could overwhelm embankments and affect agricultural lands and settlements along the riverbank.
Bihar’s chief minister’s office said the request is purely a safety measure and does not reflect any political dispute. It urged West Bengal to act swiftly to prevent any adverse impact on lives and property. West Bengal authorities have not yet issued a formal response.
If the gates are opened, the increased discharge is expected to lower the water level in Bihar’s stretch of the Ganga, providing temporary relief while longer‑term flood management plans are evaluated.