Patna/Lucknow,Aug 27: Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were put on high alert on Wednesday following deadly flash floods in Nepal, with three bodies recovered from the Gandak River in Maharajganj and authorities stepping up vigil along vulnerable stretches of the river.
The flash floods along Nepal’s Bhote Koshi River near the Tibet border reportedly killed more than 270 people, triggering concerns in Bihar over a possible rise in the Gandak River’s water level.
In West Champaran, officials maintained heightened vigil at the Valmikinagar Barrage and inspected embankments and other vulnerable locations as water flowing from Nepal was expected to reach the barrage.
West Champaran District Magistrate Taranjot Singh said administrative personnel had been deployed at the barrage and other locations to monitor the situation.
“Administrative personnel are on alert at the Valmikinagar Barrage and other locations due to the floods in Tibet and Nepal,” Singh said.
He said the water had already crossed Devghat in Nepal and was expected to reach the Valmikinagar Barrage around 9 am.
“The water has already crossed Devghat in Nepal. The water is expected to reach the barrage around 9 am,” the DM said.
Officials said the water level was expected to remain below the danger mark and the situation was likely to remain normal, while people living along riverbanks were alerted as a precautionary measure.
“It is anticipated that the water level will remain below the danger mark and the situation will stay normal,” Singh said.
“We have alerted the people living in all the areas along the riverbanks,” he added.
Authorities have intensified preparedness measures in Bihar, particularly in areas along the Gandak, amid the possibility of increased inflows from Nepal.
Uttar Pradesh has also been placed on high alert following Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s directives. The state Relief Commissioner’s office is conducting round-the-clock monitoring of the flood situation.
The recovery of three bodies from the Gandak River in Maharajganj has further heightened concerns as officials continue to monitor water levels and downstream areas.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary amid the apprehension of a flood situation and assured him that the Centre would extend all necessary support to the state.
Officials in both states are continuing to monitor the situation closely, with particular focus on river levels, embankments and areas vulnerable to flooding following the severe weather and flash floods in Nepal.
