Sunsari, August 8

With the eastern hills witnessing continuous rainfall for the past couple of days, water flow in the Saptakoshi River has increased, prompting the authorities concerned to flash the red light at Koshi barrage today.

Acting police chief DSP Prabin Dhital of Sunsari confirmed the increased water flow. “Due to continuous rainfall in the eastern hilly districts the water level in the river has gone up, so we turned on the red light view of the possible danger,” said the DSP.

Further, Dhital informed the river recorded 192,300 cusec/per second water flow in the river today. The water level, however, was less than 211,560 cusec per second mark last night. Twenty-five of the 56 sluice gates have been opened to ease the water flow.

According to Chief District Officer Gopal Parajuli of Sunsari, special teams of Nepali Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police have been kept on standby in areas affected by the Saptakoshi in view of the possible danger. “As there could be floods anytime, we’ve cautioned the locals,” he said. Water flow upward of 150,000 cusecs per second is considered the danger level for the river.

Duryodhan Ghimire, a local, demanded that all the sluice gates at the barrage be opened in view of the increased water level. “As the swollen river has already started eroding banks in Madhuban, Prakashpur, Paschim Kusaha and Mahendranagar areas, opening all flood gates is an imperative to save human settlements from further encroachment of the river,” he said.