The water level in the country’s largest river started rising since Friday morning due to incessant rains in the eastern hilly districts in recent days. [break]
A red light alert has been shown at the Koshi barrage since then. A water flow exceeding the 1,50,000 cusecs mark is considered dangerous at the barrage.
With the water flow continuing to increase, 23 of the 56 floodgates at the barrage have been opened, informed the District Police Office, Sunsari.
The river has an average 150,000 cusecs of water flow in dry seasons, while it brings up to 400,000 cusecs water during monsoon.
Though the river can withstand a water flow of 950,000 cusecs, the capacity has hugely diminished, with the embankments to the east bank of the river eroding every year.
The highest recorded flood in Koshi is 800,000 cusecs in early 1960s.
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