PATNA, Aug. 15 -- Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in Vaishali, Patna, Begusarai and Munger districts to assess the worsening flood crisis impacting approximately 2.5 million people across 10 districts. The surveyed areas included Raghopur Diyara, Rupas Mahaji, Kala Diyara, Ramnagar, Kasaha Diyara, Mokama, Barh and Fatuha Tal in Patna, alongside flood-hit regions in Begusarai and Munger. During the survey, the CM directed authorities to maintain constant vigilance, ensure round-the-clock monitoring by the water resources department (ERD), and provide relief as per standard operating procedures (SOPs). Instructions included ensuring the availability of boats, polythene sheets, medicines, fodder, community kitchens, dry ration packets, and operational emergency centres to support affected populations. Kumar stressed proactive relief and rescue operations to mitigate the crisis. Heavy rainfall in Bihar, neighbouring states and Nepal has caused major rivers to continue flowing above the danger levels at multiple gauge stations, intensifying flood risks across the state. According to WRD reports, the Ganga is flowing above the danger mark at several key stations, including Gandhi Ghat (24 cm above the red mark), Hathidah (70 cm) and Kahalgaon (1.45 metre), submerging dozens of villages in the diara region and overtopped a few stretches of the National Highway-80 in Bhagalpur. The impact of floods by river Ganga has marginally subsided in the upstream after all 108 gates of the Farakka barrage have been opened. However, its embankments are still facing extreme pressure at several locations along its course and the floodwaters continued to inundate low-lying areas and agricultural fields in districts like Bhojpur, Patna, Vaishali, Bhagalpur and Katihar. The river Kosi, also in spate, is flowing about 1.42 metre above the danger level at Kursela and 1.06 metre above the DL at Baltara in Khagaria. Bagmati was reported flowing 54 cm above the DL at Benibad in Muzaffarpur. Burhi Gandak is wreaking havoc in Khagaria district, jumping the DL mark by 1.42 metre. Gandak is flowing 13 cm above the red mark at Dumariaghat in Gopalganj and is expected to rise further. Mahananda river has also begun to soar up, jumping the danger mark at Dhengraghat in Purnea by 67cm. The floods have severely impacted 10 districts: Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Begusarai, Lakhisarai, Munger, Khagaria, Bhagalpur and Katihar, affecting around 25 lakh people. In Bhojpur's Shahpur block, 33,400 people across 13 panchayats are impacted, with six community kitchens serving 61,500 meals and 2,258 polythene sheets distributed. In Patna, 90,500 people across 14 panchayats in Athmalgola, Mokama, Barh, Danapur, and Patna Sadar are affected, with six community kitchens feeding 17,200 people and two relief camps housing 1,130. The WRD has deployed 600 personnel and 45 engineers for round-the-clock embankment monitoring to prevent breaches. Boats are facilitating rescue operations, and relief measures include food, water, medical teams, veterinary care, and temporary shelter for displaced families....