Flood threat in 14 Bihar districts: Barrages on Kosi, Gandak see record discharge

Patna/Madhubani/Motihari: Record discharge of water, expected to surpass decade-old levels, through the Birpur barrage on the Kosi river in Supaul and the Valmikinagar barrage on the Gandak river in West Champaran, has raised serious concerns of flood among officials and people in low-lying areas across 14 districts.The threat of flood is owing to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of north Bihar rivers in Nepal, and also in their own basins. The water discharge through the Birpur barrage on Saturday increased from 4.80 lakh cusecs at 10am to 5.31 lakh cusecs by 2pm. Similarly, the water discharge through the Valmikinagar barrage on the Gandak river rose from 3.84 lakh cusecs at 10am to 4.49 lakh cusecs by 2pm on the day. The Kosi river falls into the Ganga river at Kursela in Katihar district and Gandak river on the north of Patna in Saran district, implying that Bhagalpur and Katihar districts would be worst affected by the fresh gush of floodwaters of the Ganga river. As a precautionary measure, the Supaul district administration has started making public announcements through microphones, asking people living in villages between the eastern and western Kosi embankments to shift to higher planes. The state water resources department (WRD) had issued a high alert to the DMs concerned on Friday, asking the officials and engineers to remain prepared to meet the emerging situation, and also maintain constant vigil on embankments. The leaves of the officials have been cancelled.The WRD letter said the water discharge through the Birpur barrage would be 6.81 lakh cusecs by Saturday night. Observers said it would be close to the highest discharge of 7.25 lakh cusecs recorded 56 years ago. Similarly, the discharge through the Valmikinagar barrage could reach the two-decade-old mark.The 14 districts which have been put on the high alert are Supaul, Saharsa, Khagaria, Bhagalpur and Katihar in the backdrop of the swelling Kosi river, as well as West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Muzaffarpur, Saran, Vaishali, Samastipur due to the overflowing Gandak river. Besides, among other rivers, Bagmati is also posing serious flood threat to Sitamarhi, Sheohar and Muzaffarpur districts.