The district administration has ordered the closure of all schools in flood-affected areas of Sahibganj district in Jharkhand on Monday and Tuesday after the Ganga River crossed its danger mark, inundating several parts of the district.
The directive, issued late Sunday night by the District Education Department, applies to both rural and urban institutions to ensure student safety. Out of 28 wards under the Sahibganj Municipal Council, 11 have been severely hit by floodwaters. Officials estimate that more than 8,000 residents from around 1,600 households have been affected.
Waterlogging has made movement difficult for schoolchildren, and in several institutions, especially in the Diara belt and low-lying urban zones, floodwater has entered the premises. In several areas water has entered dozens of homes, forcing hundreds of families to move to safer shelters, including Dharamshalas and other public places.
According to official measurements, the Ganga’s danger mark at Sahibganj is 27.25 metres. At 6 am Monday, the water level stood at 28.62 metres — 1.37 metres above the critical threshold. The Diara region is now entirely submerged, and water has started seeping into several urban wards.
Also Read: Ganga flowing above danger mark in Bihar
The seasonal surge of the Ganga in Sahibganj typically occurs during the monsoon months of Sawan and Bhado. Heavy rainfall, combined with water releases from upstream in Nepal and inflow via the Kosi River, aggravates the flooding each year. This monsoon pattern has again resulted in large-scale inundation, cutting off routes, damaging homes, and disrupting daily life.
Relief and rescue measures are underway, with the administration setting up temporary shelters and arranging food and drinking water for displaced families. Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable zones to move to safer areas and avoid venturing into flooded streets. District officials said they are closely monitoring the situation, with water levels expected to remain high over the next few days. The school closures, they added, are a precautionary step to protect children until conditions improve.
Also Read: Rescue ops underway as Bihar floods affect 16 lakh people
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