ITAHARI, Aug 8: The continuous rain since Monday afternoon has increased the flow of water in the Saptakoshi River and crossed the danger level. According to the measurement at 2PM on Tuesday, the water flow has reached 200,690 cusec.
The District Administration Office, Sunsari, said that the flow of water has been continuously rising since Tuesday morning. According to the Koshi Barrage Control Room, 24 of the 56 sluice gates have been opened as the water flow continues to increase. The control room said that if the flow of water increases as required, other gates will be opened.
Although the flow of water is increasing in Saptakoshi, no danger has been seen in the eastern embankment area so far. As the flow of water recedes, the eastern embankment area becomes more vulnerable.
Water level in Saptakoshi crosses danger mark; 35 sluices opene...
After crossing the danger level, red lights are lit on the west and east side of the Koshi Barrage. As soon as the flow of water in the Koshi Barrage crosses 150,000, a red light is lit to alert the general public. When the flow of water crosses 150,000, the red light is lit towards the west and when it crosses 200,000, the red light is lit towards the east. As soon as the flow of water crosses 300,000, red lights are also lit in the middle.
Up to 150,000 cusec is considered normal in Koshi Barrage. It is mentioned that the Koshi barrage will have a carrying capacity of 950,000 cusec of water. However, due to the accumulation of sand in the upper part of the barrage and the flow of water in recent years is less than 400,000, it is not possible to make any estimate.
The total load carrying capacity of Koshi barrage is 900,000 cusec. Looking at the data for the last 20 years, the water in Saptakoshi has not risen above 400,000 cusec. It is in the records of the Koshi barrage control room that the water has not risen above 400,000 cusec since the year 2000.
Saptakoshi was the highest in the history until 1968 when it reached 788,200 cusec. In 1987, it reached 523,771 cusec.
On August 18, 2008, the Saptakoshi river broke the eastern embankment due to the flow of 168,000 cusec of water. At that time, when Koshi destroyed the eastern embankment, it entered four human settlements of Koshi Rural Municipality. At that time, 7,563 families were displaced when the Saptakoshi river broke the eastern embankment.
In the year 2008, Saptakoshi broke the embankment and changed its course, but after three months of continuous efforts, it was returned to its old course.
