Bettiah: The water resources department has stepped up vigilance along the Gandak river and its embankments following a forecast of heavy rainfall in Nepal from Sept 26 to Sept 30, raising the possibility of a rise in the river’s water level.Monitoring of the PP and Champaran embankments has been intensified, particularly at vulnerable locations. Water discharge from the Gandak barrage rose from 44,200 cusecs on Thursday morning to 92,900 cusecs by Friday noon.An alert issued by the Nepal administration about heavy rainfall and rising river levels has prompted increased surveillance along the embankments.Water resources department executive engineer Mohd Iqbal said, “Nepal administration has informed us about heavy rainfall from Sept 26 to Sept 30. In view of this, all engineers have been directed to maintain continuous vigil along the embankments and remain fully alert. There is a possibility of higher discharge in the Kosi and Bagmati rivers from Nepal, but our team is also closely monitoring the discharge from the Devghat barrage into the Gandak. The rise in the Gandak water level depends on rainfall in Nepal.”Meanwhile, erosion has intensified at Naukatola in Thakraha block amid increasing pressure in the Gandak. Anti-erosion measures are failing to withstand the river’s force, with portions of agricultural land being washed away.Farmers are being forced to harvest their paddy crop before maturity and take it home as cattle fodder. They said the crop needed more time to mature but feared losing both the standing crop and land if harvesting was delayed.Water resources department executive engineer Vijay Pal, who inspected the site, said, “The pillar of the high-tension tower is causing a back-rolling (reverse flow) condition in the river water. This is increasing water pressure at the affected site. To control the situation, the department is using flood-fighting materials to check the erosion.”
