India, Aug. 27 -- The surge in the Gandak River waters triggered by upstream flash floods in Nepal and Tibet receded overnight, even as over 4,000 people were evacuated from parts of Bihar around midnight on Thursday. Officials allayed fears, saying embankments withstood the pressure and water levels were returning to normal.

The Valmiki Nagar barrage in West Champaran recorded its highest discharge of around 1.50 lakh cusec around midnight. By early morning, the flow had stabilised. At about 7am, the discharge was at 95,200 cusec. It receded to around 88,000 cusec by 8 am, said Bihar water resources department secretary Chandra Shekhar Singh.

"Excess water passed off the river Gandak. Embankments of the river sustained the pressure, an...