PATNA, Aug. 13 -- The Ganga on Tuesday breached its highest flood level (HFL) at Ekchari in Bhagalpur, flowing 5 cm above the previous record. At Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district, the river was 1.65 metres above the danger level (DL) and close to the HFL, putting severe pressure on ring bunds across the district. In Bhagalpur city, the Ganga stood 88 cm above the DL, while at Gandhi Ghat in Patna, it was 86 cm above the DL, inundating low-lying areas in both the regions. Several other rivers - including the Kosi, Bagmati, Burhi Gandak, Punpun, Ghaghra, Gandak, Mahananda, Kamla Balan and Sone - were also flowing above danger marks in multiple districts, with the Kosi and Gandak swollen due to heavy rainfall in Nepal's catchment areas. According to a senior officer of the water resources department (WRD), a zamindari bund in Naugachhia, Bhagalpur, has been breached, flooding dozens of villages. The Ismailpur-Bindtoli embankment in Bhagalpur is 80% compromised, with further breaches reported. Embankments along the Kosi in Supaul and Saharsa and the Gandak in Gopalganj and East Champaran, are at risk due to record water flows. The Bagmati's embankments in Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi are also under strain, with authorities reinforcing vulnerable sections using sandbags. Bihar faces an escalating flood crisis driven by relentless rainfall across the state and in the catchment areas of Nepal, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for 19 districts, including West Champaran, East Champaran, and Madhubani, predicting heavy rain and winds up to 40 km/h. Despite a 25% seasonal rainfall deficit, recent downpours have pushed rivers to unprecedented levels, submerging vast areas. According to a WRD report, river Bagmati is flowing 80 cm above the danger level at Benibad in Muzaffarpur. Likewise, river Kosi is maintaining a rising trend along its course from Birpur in Supaul, where it is flowing 50cm above the DL. The river is recorded flowing around 1 metre above the DL at Baltara in Khagaria. Bagmati river continues to flow 1.86 metre above the DL at Khagaria, submerging a vast stretch of plains in the district. Over 17 lakh people across 12 districts are affected, including Bhagalpur (4.16 lakh, 75 panchayats), Begusarai (3.15 lakh, 36 panchayats), Patna (1 lakh, 24 panchayats in seven blocks like Athmalgola and Danapur), Saran (3.83 lakh, 30 panchayats), Bhojpur (1.88 lakh, 22 panchayats), Vaishali (1.67 lakh, 20 panchayats), Munger (1.26 lakh, 18 panchayats), Lakhisarai, Khagaria, Samastipur, Katihar, and West Champaran. Rescue operations involve 32 NDRF and SDRF teams with over 1,000 boats, supported by relief camps and community kitchens. However, the IMD's forecast of continued rain for the next seven days, combined with the Ganga's record levels and the Naugachhia breach, has intensified urban and rural flooding. Authorities remain on high alert as embankment stability deteriorates further....