PATNA, Sept. 7 -- Floodwaters from the Ganga and its tributaries, including Punpun and Dardha, continued to wreak havoc in Patna and adjoining areas on Sunday, aggravated by heavy rains in their catchment zones in Bihar and neighbouring Jharkhand. The Ganga crossed its previous highest flood level (HFL) at multiple points in the state capital. At Gandhi Ghat it stood at 50.57 metres this morning-0.05 metres above the August 2016 mark of 50.52 metres-with a stable trend. At Pandarak it was 43.92 metres (0.19 metres above the 2021 HFL), at Danapur 52.63 metres (0.02 metres above HFL), and at Banka Ghat 49.47 metres (0.03 metres above HFL). Downstream stations, including Hathidah, remain under close watch and could breach earlier records in the coming one to three days, according to the water resources department and the disaster management department (DMD). Several other rivers-the Gandak at Dumariaghat and Hajipur, the Kosi at Baltara and Kursela, the Budhi Gandak at Khagaria, the Punpun at Sripalpur, the Bagmati at Benibad, and the Ghaghra at Darauli-were flowing above danger marks. According to the DMD's evening update, the rising waters have affected approximately 22.42 lakh people across 12 districts-Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Lakhisarai and Arwal-spanning 70 blocks and 368 gram panchayats. Railway traffic disruption has been severe. Train traffic on the Patna-Gaya section has been completely snapped after Punpun river water partially submerged the girder of the bridge near Punpun Ghat station (bridge number 21 connecting Punpun and Parsa Bazar). Local train services have been suspended; several express trains have been cancelled or diverted by east central railway (ECR) Embankment breaches compounded the crisis. In Masaurhi block of Patna district, ring bunds and embankments gave way at Isarchak, Vishwambharpur, Chandchak, Chamarachakia and Pauma under pressure from the Punpun and its tributaries (Dardha and Lokain), linked to high releases from the Indrapuri barrage on the Sone and the swollen Ganga. A ring bund at Kuda Nawada Bangla near Phulwari/Sampatchak blocks also breached, flooding the village. In Saran, the Mahi river embankment near Kesharpur (Dighwara block) broke over a 25-30-foot stretch, while the Sukhmayi embankment near Mathia in Dariyapur was damaged. Road connectivity has also been badly hit due to surging waters. Floodwaters climbed onto the Patna-Mokama national highway stretch; the Hajipur-Ghazipur NH-19 and Ara-Buxar four-lane highway reported inundation at multiple points. In Vaishali, the Raghopur-Jurawanpur road remains under more than five feet of water. Within Patna, the stretch between Bhadrghat and Kanganghat has been barricaded after three to four feet of water cut off the link to Patna City and the Ganga ghats. Local roads in Masaurhi, Paliganj, Begusarai's Matihani block and parts of Saran continue to carry two to three feet of flowing water, isolating several villages. Relief operations have been scaled up. The DMD reported 190 community kitchens operating (up from about 80 a day earlier), serving roughly 2.51 lakh meals so far. Three relief camps are housing 1,631 people with food, shelter and medical care. Around 65,700 polythene sheets and 12,700 dry-ration packets have been distributed. A total of 1,429 boats are in service for evacuation and movement. Twenty-seven SDRF teams and 10 NDRF teams remain deployed. Medical camps have risen to 171. Rainfall data from the Patna meteorological centre shows September has so far recorded 69.1 mm-55% above normal-though the June-early September cumulative remains 27% below normal. Light to moderate rain is forecast at many places over the next two days, with isolated heavy spells possible. Opposition leaders, including RJD's Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, have demanded that the floods be declared a national disaster, citing widespread damage to livestock, infrastructure and property and calling for central assistance, Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters and a visit by the Prime Minister. Authorities continue to monitor embankments, urge people to stay clear of rivers, and keep boats and machinery on standby as the situation evolves....