The incessant monsoon in the hilly districts in the recent past has caused an increase in the water flow. Fifteen of the 55 floodgates have been opened to give outlet for the increased water flow, according to District Police Office, Sunsari. [break]
A day earlier, an inspection team comprising chiefs of the government offices in the district had visited the river site and found the flood in the river to be breaching embankment on the eastern bank of the river, south of the Prakashpur Rajabas settlement area.
The river generally witnesses a rise in its water flow only after mid-August when the monsoon is at its height. In August 2008, the water flow in the river was recorded at 1,68,000 cusecs when it breached the eastern embankment.
A red light alert is shown at the river when the water flow exceeds 1, 50,000 cusecs. 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, according to official data.
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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