SUNSARI/ KATHMANDU, JUN 30 - As the water level in the Saptakoshi river saw a significant rise towards the danger level on Thursday, experts warned that the swollen river could breach the newly-constructed embankment causing yet another flood.The water flow in the river was recorded 146,080 cusec at 10:30 pm, which is just around 4,000 cusec below the danger level. However, the water level is likely to
go up with torrential rains lashing Sunsari district.
Officials at the Department of Irrigation and the Home Ministry said that though the water flow in the river was below the danger level (150,000 cusec), the rapid erosion of spurs along the eastern embankment at Prakashpur area in Sunsari was a concern.
Experts said that unlike earlier, a slight increase in the water level above the danger line could breach the embankment this time around as the river bed has thickened due to siltation over the years.
“In 1954, the river flooded only when the water flow reached as high as 850,000 cusec. But in 2008, a mere 168,000 cusec caused a devastating flood,” said Hira Nanda Jha, Chief of the Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention under the Home Ministry.
Local experts said that given the heavy rainfall and rapid increase in the water flow over the last two days, the river could cross the danger level anytime soon. “The water flow went up dramatically from 82,000 cusec on Sunday to around 147,000 cusec on Thrusday evening,” said Manik Lal Shrestha, Regional Director of the Department of Irrigation in Biratnagar. “If repair and maintenance work of the spurs does not begin immediately, the river could breach the embankment.”
On August 18, 2008, the Koshi river breached its eastern embankment at Pashim Kusaha in Sunsari and flooded areas in Nepal and India and left half-a-dozen villages nearby inundated, rendering around 50,000 people homeless and affecting millions on both sides of the border.
On Thursday evening, 19 of the 56 floodgates of the Koshi barrage were opened. Generally, authorities ring an alarm bell after the water level reaches 150,000 cusec.
Water expert Ajay Mani Dixit said in Kathmandu that it is better the authorities take caution as Himalayan rivers are unpredictable, while the sedimentation increases the risk. "It is not the water flow that matters, but the level of sedimentation at river beds," he said.
Meanwhile a high-level team led by Home Secretary Lilamani Poudel on Thursday inspected the vulnerable site. "Though there is no immediate danger, the major concern is that the water is getting close to the embankment," Poudel said.
According to him, the local administration has been directed to coordinate with the Indian side to come up with solid measures as soon as possible. "The local administration will hold a meeting with the Indian authorities on Saturday," he said. "If the process is not started immediately, we will hold a government-level meeting with India very soon," he added.
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From Ekantipur News
go up with torrential rains lashing Sunsari district.
Officials at the Department of Irrigation and the Home Ministry said that though the water flow in the river was below the danger level (150,000 cusec), the rapid erosion of spurs along the eastern embankment at Prakashpur area in Sunsari was a concern.
Experts said that unlike earlier, a slight increase in the water level above the danger line could breach the embankment this time around as the river bed has thickened due to siltation over the years.
“In 1954, the river flooded only when the water flow reached as high as 850,000 cusec. But in 2008, a mere 168,000 cusec caused a devastating flood,” said Hira Nanda Jha, Chief of the Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention under the Home Ministry.
Local experts said that given the heavy rainfall and rapid increase in the water flow over the last two days, the river could cross the danger level anytime soon. “The water flow went up dramatically from 82,000 cusec on Sunday to around 147,000 cusec on Thrusday evening,” said Manik Lal Shrestha, Regional Director of the Department of Irrigation in Biratnagar. “If repair and maintenance work of the spurs does not begin immediately, the river could breach the embankment.”
On August 18, 2008, the Koshi river breached its eastern embankment at Pashim Kusaha in Sunsari and flooded areas in Nepal and India and left half-a-dozen villages nearby inundated, rendering around 50,000 people homeless and affecting millions on both sides of the border.
On Thursday evening, 19 of the 56 floodgates of the Koshi barrage were opened. Generally, authorities ring an alarm bell after the water level reaches 150,000 cusec.
Water expert Ajay Mani Dixit said in Kathmandu that it is better the authorities take caution as Himalayan rivers are unpredictable, while the sedimentation increases the risk. "It is not the water flow that matters, but the level of sedimentation at river beds," he said.
Meanwhile a high-level team led by Home Secretary Lilamani Poudel on Thursday inspected the vulnerable site. "Though there is no immediate danger, the major concern is that the water is getting close to the embankment," Poudel said.
According to him, the local administration has been directed to coordinate with the Indian side to come up with solid measures as soon as possible. "The local administration will hold a meeting with the Indian authorities on Saturday," he said. "If the process is not started immediately, we will hold a government-level meeting with India very soon," he added.
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From Ekantipur News
By:ABADHESH KUMAR JHA in SUNSARI & PRAGATI SHAHI in KATHMANDU
