Patna: Flood fears from the Kosi and Gandak returned to Bihar early Saturday as heavy rain in Nepal pushed water discharge from the Birpur barrage on Kosi and Valmikinagar barrage on Gandak to their highest levels this season.The two major rivers, along with around half a dozen smaller rivers, originate in Nepal. The situation prompted the govt to put 17 north Bihar districts on high alert.Chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit held a high-level review meeting at the disaster management department (DMD) headquarters with heads of concerned departments, while DMs of sensitive districts in north Bihar joined through videoconferencing. He issued instructions and guidelines to tackle the emerging situation.The administration, water resources department (WRD), national disaster response force (NDRF) and state disaster response force (SDRF) teams were asked to remain on high alert and monitor the situation.The DMs were directed to issue advance warnings in potentially sensitive areas through miking and ask residents to remain prepared for evacuation if floodwaters enter their areas. The DMD’s toll-free number, 1070, was also made public for emergency assistance.The districts on alert include Sitamarhi, West Champaran, East Champaran, Sheohar, Vaishali, Gopalganj, Saran, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura, Katihar, Khagaria and Begusarai.According to a WRD note, discharge through the Birpur barrage on Kosi stood at 3.13 lakh cusecs at 6am, while discharge through the Valmikinagar barrage on Gandak reached 2.86 lakh cusecs by 11am. By 2pm, Birpur’s discharge had fallen to 2.90 lakh cusecs, while Valmikinagar’s rose to 3 lakh cusecs.Both barrages recorded their highest discharge of the season. Earlier, Birpur had recorded 2.55 lakh cusecs on July 20 and Valmikinagar 2.24 lakh cusecs on July 14.The WRD said the possibility of a grim flood situation remained low as the Ganga’s water level had fallen and it had the capacity to absorb additional water from tributaries, including the Kosi, Gandak and Bagmati, preventing any backwater effect.It also said rainfall conditions in Nepal were currently normal. “Yet, constant vigil is being maintained in a mode of high alert,” it added.
