Kathmandu [Nepal], August 27 – Indian authorities have stepped up flood preparedness in border areas following a flash flood in Nepal’s Bhotekoshi River on Wednesday deploying rescue teams and boats in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Hundreds of boats have been deployed in districts along the Nepal-India border while 11 rescue teams have been mobilised in Uttar Pradesh and nine National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams in Bihar.
Police posts have also been established in low-lying and flood-prone villages to strengthen security and monitoring.
Bihar Disaster Management Minister Ratnesh Sada said the state was fully prepared for possible flooding. He said Chief Minister had conducted an aerial inspection of areas including Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Chhapra and Munger.
The Bihar Water Resources Department has opened all 36 gates of the Gandak Barrage at Valmikinagar following rising water levels in rivers originating in Nepal. Authorities have also issued alerts to districts in the Gandak basin and arranged supplies and continuous embankment inspections.
In Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed officials in Maharajganj and Kushinagar to complete preparations as water levels in the Gandak and Narayani rivers could rise.
The NDRF said the Central Water Commission reported a sudden rise in the Trishuli River near Phurke Khola, about 160 km from the Indian border. Authorities suspect a glacial lake outburst flood near the Nepal-China border.
Two NDRF teams have been sent to West Champaran and Muzaffarpur for assessment while additional teams will be deployed if needed.
