PATNA, Aug. 4 -- Bihar faces severe threat of flooding owing to relentless rain and rising water levels in major rivers, severely impacting food security and livelihoods. The Ganga, Kosi, Sone, Bagmati, and Burhi Gandak rivers were flowing above danger levels across multiple districts, threatening widespread flooding in low-lying areas like Buxar, Bhojpur, Munger, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, Katihar and Muzaffarpur on Sunday. In view of rising water-levels in various rivers and flood water engulfing low-lying areas along the courses of the rivers, CM Nitish Kumar inspected the State Emergency Operations Centre on Sunday, urging officials to ramp up rescue and relief efforts to address the escalating crisis. The Ganga is alarmingly high, flowing 25 cm above the danger level at Buxar, 51 cm above at Gandhi Ghat in Patna, 45 cm above at Hathidah in Patna, and 25 cm above at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur. The Kosi River is equally concerning, surging 35 cm above the danger level at Basua in Supaul, 1.15 m above at Baltara in Khagaria, and 18 cm above at Kursela in Katihar. The Bagmati River is flowing 1.5 m above the danger level at Santosh Jaldwar in Khagaria and above the danger mark in Muzaffarpur. The Burhi Gandak is above danger levels in East Champaran and Khagaria, while Sone, with a discharge of around 100,000 cusecs, is also exceeding its danger mark, spreading floodwaters into agricultural fields. These rising levels, fuelled by heavy rainfall in Bihar and Nepal's catchment areas, have inundated villages and disrupted lives. The continuous rains, with 25 mm or more recorded in 222 blocks across the state, have worsened the situation. Met department issued an orange alert for districts like Patna, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, and Muzaffarpur, forecasting heavy rain for the next 48 hours. Waterlogging in Patna submerged key roads, isolating communities and hindering relief efforts. In Bhagalpur, 25 villages were flooded in September 2024, and the current surge in the Ganga threatens further devastation. No casualties have been reported as of now, but the risk remains high. The flooding has caused food shortage, with disrupted supply chains leaving villagers in places like Naugachia (Bhagalpur) without grains or cooking fuel. In September 2024, residents received only minimal aid like polythene tents, and similar challenges persist. Thousands have been displaced, with homes submerged in Bhagalpur, Patna, and Khagaria. In Darbhanga, a Kosi embankment breach last year destroyed food stocks and livestock, and the current crisis could replicate such losses. Agricultural fields, critical for Bihar's 79.43 per cent paddy crop coverage, are underwater, threatening farmers' livelihoods. Waterlogged roads and damaged infrastructure, including a water tower in Bhagalpur, further isolate communities, while recurring floods foster fear and helplessness among residents. CM Kumar directed officials to stay vigilant, and the disaster management department is coordinating relief, with 1,280 boats deployed and eight relief camps housing 3,950 people. Community kitchens are providing dry rations, but the scale of the crisis strains resources. The water resources department reports that embankments are safe, with flood-fighting materials ready, but past breaches highlight vulnerabilities....