BAGAHA: All the 36 gates of Valmikinagar barrage at Bagaha in West Champaran district have been opened as 3.15 lakh cusecs water was discharged into the Gandak on Tuesday evening following heavy rainfall in neighbouring Nepal over the last three days. The heavy rainfall in the catchment area of rivers in Nepal has led to sudden rise in water level of Gandak, Bhapsa, Kosi, Haraha, Masan, Pandai, Harbora, Maniyari, Kapan, Oria, Kataha and other hilly rivers, creating a flood-like situation in bordering areas of Bagaha.
Subodh Chaudhary, the executive engineer of water resources department camping at Valmikinagar barrage, said: “The barrage has released 3,10,600 lakh cusecs water at 4pm on Tuesday. All its 36 gates have been opened. The river maintained rising trend.”
Many panchayats in the low-lying blocks, including Piparasi, Madhubani, Bhitaha Thakaraha, Yogapatti and Bairia Nautan have been inundated. Locals said around 15,000 people in two panchayats of Ramnagar block have been displaced since Monday. The Narkatiaganj-Balathar road under Narkatiaganj subdivision has been cut off for the last three days.
Chakadahawa, Kanhitola and Jhandu Tola of Lakshmipur-Rampurwa panchayat under Valmikinagar police station area on India-Nepal border are also facing flood threat, locals said. Villagers have already started shifting to safer places.
Vishnu Prakash Parwana, the executive engineer of flood control division of WRD at Bagaha, said junior engineers were keeping a close watch on the left bund of the Gandak made for protection of Bagaha town.
The strong current of Gandak is, however, touching the protection bund near Kalighat, Golaghat, Agarwal Batika, Ramdham and Ratanmala under Bagaha Nagar Parishad.
Meanwhile, heavy rain in the catchment area of Sikarahana river has washed away a diversion of Bahuyarawa Baba bridge and dislocated many panchayats of Bagaha-1 block. Villagers have arranged a bamboo bridge (chachari pul) for bikes.and pedestrians. A small bridge over Kataha river under Gaunaha block also reportedly collapsed on Tuesday morning, cutting off six villages of Marjadi panchayat from Gaunaha block headquarters.
West Champaran DM Kundan Kumar has sounded an alert following fresh release of water into the Gandak from Nepal, apprehending further rise of water level in the river. He asked Bagaha, Narkatiaganj and Bettiah SDMs and block officials to appeal to people residing in the low-lying areas to move to safer places like flood relief centres and government flood habitation centres and start community kitchens. The DM has also directed flood control division of Bagaha and Pipara-Piparasi embankment engineers to remain vigilant round the clock.
