The water level dropped to 186,430 cusec in the evening and 10 of the gates were shut. [break]
However, the red light, indicative of the threat alert as water level crosses 150,000 cusec, remained lit, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) in Sunsari Raju Manandhar.
The water level was 168,000 cusec when Koshi breached its eastern embankment on August 18, 2008.
The barrage was constructed to withstand pressure of 800,000 cusec when it was completed in early 1960s experts claim that it may not even withstand 400,000 cusec now as the capacity of barrage has been drastically reduced by massive sedimentation.
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