Bihar has issued a high alert following the landslide in Nepal which has triggered threat of flash floods in northern Bihar. The threat is more palpable in regions through which Gandak River flows. The massive landslide was reported in Nepal’s Ramchi village in Myagdi district after which a huge chunk of hills fell in the Kali Gandaki River that obstructed the flow of the river.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday held a review meeting with the officials of disaster management and said the district officials and authorities of the water resources department of the districts through which Gandak River crosses have been alerted. He said the landslide was reported from Myagdi district of Nepal on Saturday night.
It is apprehended that when the huge rock would be removed, the water would gush down in north Bihar with alarming speed, said Nitish and added that the officials have already made speculations of its speed and precautionary steps have been taken to meet any eventuality.
As a precautionary measure, all the 36 sluice gates of Valmikinagar Barrage have been opened and the fishermen have been cautioned to not go in the Gandak River. The Nepal authorities have also issued high alert and deployed army. The Nepal authorities have suggested that the rock should be broken into pieces by dropping bombs from aircrafts. This might create danger in the regions in which way water would flow. The people living in those regions have been asked to shift to safer places.
Sources said that five north Bihar districts have been put on high alert and officials have been asked to take precautionary measures in case of heavy flow of water in the Gandak River from Nepal side. Such a situation could arise after the bursting of artificial lake formed 10 km upstream of Kali Gandaki which enters India on the border of UP and Bihar.