The Water Resources Department in Bihar has taken significant action following widespread negligence in flood management and embankment monitoring after the Gandak River reached record levels. Seven engineers, including two executive engineers, have been suspended. Additionally, departmental action has been ordered against Kumar Manoj Gupta, the Chief Engineer of Muzaffarpur, for alleged negligence concerning damage to the Champaran embankment.

The suspended officials include Santosh Kumar Prabhakar (Executive Engineer, Saran), Mohammad Sajid Iqbal (Executive Engineer, Gopalganj), Sunil Kumar and Vinod Kumar (Assistant Engineers, Saran), Mohammad Javed Ansari (Assistant Engineer, Gopalganj), Chandrashekhar Kumar (Junior Engineer, Saran), and Vikas Kumar (Junior Engineer, Gopalganj). The department has emphasized that any laxity in disaster management will not be tolerated, and strict action will be taken against those found responsible.

The Gandak River's water level had reached unprecedented heights following heavy rainfall in Nepal and Uttar Pradesh. While the water level at Rewaghat in Saran has now receded 50 cm below the danger mark, it remains 52 cm above the danger mark at Lalganj in Vaishali, though it is expected to fall below it within the next 24 hours. Embankments are currently stable, and issues of leakage and piping have been resolved. Materials have been stockpiled to protect vulnerable sections where embankments were breached.

Investigations revealed that some engineers were negligent and delayed action. Adequate labor and supplies were not deployed as needed, and coordination with local residents and public representatives was poor. The floods have affected approximately 9.87 lakh people across 169 Gram Panchayats in 30 blocks of six districts in Bihar: West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran, Darbhanga, and Muzaffarpur. Relief efforts include the distribution of 1,17,847 polythene sheets and 1,19,131 dry ration packets. 324 boats are operating for evacuation and transport, and food is being provided in 196 community kitchens. NDRF and SDRF teams are also actively involved in relief operations.