Bihar Floods 2024-25: Annual Tragedy Claims Over 2,000 Lives, State Struggles to Cope

PATNA: Every year, Bihar writes a new “song of sorrow” as floods wreak havoc across the state. In 2024-25, the devastating floods claimed the lives of 2,039 people, according to the recently released Economic Review presented in the Bihar Legislative Assembly during the budget session. The figures underscore the state’s chronic vulnerability to natural disasters.

Bihar’s Deadly Disaster Profile

Floods are not Bihar’s only peril. In 2024-25, 2,547 people died across various natural disasters, with floods alone accounting for the majority. By comparison, 2,140 deaths were reported in 2023-24, marking a rise of 407 fatalities in a single year.

Lightning, Fire, and Heatwaves

Beyond floods, lightning strikes claimed 305 lives in 2024-25, up from 242 in the previous year, with 29 additional people injured. Fires killed 143 people, compared to 118 in 2023-24. Heatwaves also took a toll, with deaths rising to 34, a threefold increase from 2023-24.

Bihar’s Geography Amplifies Flood Risk

Floods remain the state’s most persistent natural calamity. With 73.6% of its 94,163 sq km area prone to flooding, Bihar faces relentless challenges. The state’s rivers—Kosi, Gandak, Budhi Gandak, Bagmati, Kamla Balan, Mahananda, and Adhwara—originate in Nepal and Tibet, carrying massive volumes of rainwater and silt downstream into Bihar. Only 35% of river water comes from within Bihar, leaving the state at the mercy of upstream monsoon rains.

Historically, Bihar has witnessed severe floods in 1978, 1987, 1998, 2002, 2004, and 2007. The 1998 floods claimed 381 lives and destroyed crops worth ₹36,696.68 lakh and public property worth ₹9,284 lakh. In 2002, floods killed 489 people, with crop losses of ₹51,149.61 lakh and public property losses of ₹40,892.19 lakh. The 2004 floods were deadliest, with 885 fatalities, crop losses of ₹52,205.64 lakh, and property damage of ₹1,03,049.64 lakh.

Rivers of Sorrow

Bihar’s rivers, lifelines for centuries, have become agents of destruction. The Kosi, often called the “River of Sorrow,” along with Gandak, Bagmati, Kamla Balan, Budhi Gandak, Mahananda, and Ghaghra, annually submerge vast areas, displacing thousands and leaving a trail of tears and destruction.

Despite ongoing disaster management efforts, Bihar remains powerless against these recurring floods, which destroy lives, property, and livelihoods year after year, underscoring the urgent need for long-term solutions and infrastructure to mitigate this perennial crisis.