India, Sept. 7 -- Over 19 lakh people across 11 districts of Bihar have been affected by floods, with authorities sounding an alert in downstream areas after the water level of the Ganga crossed a crucial flood mark at Gandhi Ghat in Patna, officials said on Sunday.

Hathidah and subsequent gauge stations in the state capital are likely to be impacted over the next one to three days, as the Ganga's water level topped the 'highest flood level' (HFL) at Gandhi Ghat in Patna following heavy rain, they said.

Due to the rise in water levels of various rivers in the state, around 19.57 lakh people in 330 gram panchayats across 11 districts - Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar and Araria - ...