Bihar CM conducts aerial survey of flood-hit Nepal border areas
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Thursday conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in the state that shares a border with Nepal, where devastating flash floods claimed the lives of at least 162 people and left many untraceable a day ago.
After the aerial inspection at Valmikinagar in West Champaran district, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was monitoring the situation.
Bihar was put on alert as floodwaters from the neighbouring country entered the Gandak River and reached the Gandak barrage on Wednesday, prompting authorities to open all 36 gates to control the surge.
In a post on social media, Choudhary wrote, “In view of the floods in Nepal, I conducted an aerial survey of the flood situation in Bihar’s border areas, including Bagaha, Valmikinagar, Bettiah, and Motihari. I also reviewed the administrative preparedness regarding the potential impact, necessary precautionary measures, safety, and relief and rescue operations.”
He also directed the officials concerned to take all necessary steps with utmost promptness and preparedness.
Ensuring the safety of citizens in flood-affected areas and providing them with every possible assistance remains the highest priority of the state Government, Choudhary said.
Talking to reporters, the CM said, “With the blessings of the Almighty, things are returning to normalcy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is monitoring the situation. The discharge of water from the Gandak barrage has started declining. Due to fresh rainfall, the water level in the Gandak River has increased slightly, but the discharge from the barrage is still around 1 lakh cusecs.”
The water discharge from the Gandak barrage at Valmikinagar declined from 1.50 lakh cusecs at 11 pm on Wednesday to 1.04 lakh cusecs on Thursday morning. “The water discharge from the Gandak barrage at Valmikinagar peaked at 1.50 lakh cusecs at 11 pm on Wednesday, after which the water level began receding,” said the Water Resources Department (WRD) in a statement on Thursday.
The water level of the Gandak River, which was in spate after the flash floods in Nepal a day ago, was showing a receding trend on Thursday, bringing respite to the residents of low-lying areas in northern parts of Bihar, officials said.
The Nepal Police said that the death toll rose to 162 in the flash floods on the Bhotekoshi river that wreaked havoc across three districts of the neighbouring country on Wednesday.
The flash floods were caused after an avalanche blocked the flow of the Lhende tributary of the Bhotekoshi river and first hit Timure, near Nepal’s border with China, at Rasuwagadhi.
