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Bihar Floods Seen in NASA Satellite Images: Gandak's Changed Appearance, Why the Pattern Shift?
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News18•03-10-2026, 15:30
Bihar Floods Seen in NASA Satellite Images: Gandak's Changed Appearance, Why the Pattern Shift?
- •NASA released a special report on the Gandak River floods, showing a significant change in the river's spread between September 20 and September 29.
- •Water Resources Minister Vijay Chaudhary cited NASA and Nepal government reports, stating the Gandak River reached its highest water level in history.
- •On September 27, the Gandak River's water level at Devghat, Nepal, was recorded at 11.94 meters, the highest record to date.
- •NASA Earth Observatory images from MODIS sensors showed a much wider spread of the river on September 29 compared to September 20, with submerged fields and settlements.
- •Vijay Chaudhary explained the flood pattern reversed this year; heavy rainfall in Nepal caused the Gandak to wreak havoc first, leading to embankment breaches and submerged crops in Bihar.
Key Questions Answered
NASA's satellite data confirmed that the water level of the Gandak River at Devghat, Nepal, reached a historic high of 11.94 meters on September 27, marking the highest record to date.
NASA Earth Observatory used images from the MODIS sensors on the Terra and Aqua satellites, combining infrared and visible light data to clearly display the dramatic expansion of the river between September 20 and September 29.
Water Resources Minister Vijay Chaudhary explained that continuous heavy rainfall in the hilly areas of Nepal caused all the water to flow directly into the Gandak River, reversing the typical flood pattern and creating a historic surge.
