Rivers & Bridges
Bihar GK · नदियां और पुल
📋Quick Overview
The Ganga river is the lifeline of Bihar, dividing it into North Bihar and South Bihar. North Bihar receives rivers flowing from Nepal (Himalayan rivers) like Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati, Kamla-Balan, Burhi Gandak, and Mahananda. South Bihar has rivers like Son, Falgu, Punpun, and Sakri. Bihar is one of the most flood-prone states due to Himalayan rivers.
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The Kosi river is called 'Bihar ka Shok' (Sorrow of Bihar) because it has shifted its course by 120 km in the last 250 years, causing massive floods almost every year.
📖Major Rivers of Bihar
| River | Origin / Special Feature | Joins Ganga At |
|---|---|---|
| Ganga | Enters Bihar at Buxar (W), exits at Manihari (E), 445 km in Bihar | — |
| Gandak (Narayani) | Originates Nepal, barrage at Valmikinagar | Hajipur (Vaishali) |
| Kosi (Sapta Kosi) | 7 tributaries, 'Sorrow of Bihar', shifted 120 km in 250 yrs | Kursela (Katihar) |
| Bagmati | Nepal origin, crosses Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur | Hajipur area |
| Mahananda | Nepal/Darjeeling, flows through Purnea, Kishanganj | Manihari (E. Bihar) |
| Kamla-Balan | Nepal origin, Darbhanga and Madhubani districts | Kamtaul area |
| Burhi Gandak | Originates from Someshwar hills (Champaran), 320 km in Bihar | Khagaria |
| Son | Longest S. Bihar river, originates Amarkantak (MP), Indrapuri Barrage | Patna (Maner) |
| Falgu (Niranjana) | Sacred at Gaya (Pind Daan site), called 'dried river' (cursed by Sita) | Fatwa (Patna) |
| Punpun | Flows through Patna district, flood risk for Patna city | Fatuha (Patna) |
📖Major Bridges of Bihar
| Bridge | Location | Length / Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Mahatma Gandhi Setu | Patna (over Ganga), NH-19 | 5.575 km — was India's longest road bridge for decades |
| Vikramshila Setu | Bhagalpur (over Ganga) | 4.7 km road bridge, connects Kahalgaon area |
| JP Setu (Rajendra Setu) | Mokama (over Ganga) | Rail + road bridge, oldest rail bridge in Bihar |
| Digha-Pahleja Setu | Patna (new bridge) | ~5 km, 6-lane, eases Patna city traffic |
| Munger Ganga Bridge | Munger | Connects Munger to Khagaria side |
| Arrah-Chhapra Bridge | Over Ganga (Bhojpur-Saran) | Connects Arrah (South) to Chhapra (North) |
📝Flood-Prone Rivers & Barrages
- •Kosi Barrage: Located at Bhimnagar on Nepal border — controls Kosi floods partially.
- •Gandak Barrage: At Valmikinagar — provides irrigation to West Champaran and Nepal.
- •Indrapuri Barrage: On Son river near Patna — Son Canal Project for irrigation.
- •Bihar loses ~₹3,000-5,000 crore annually to floods — mostly in North Bihar.