SUNSARI: Water levels in the Saptakoshi River in Koshi Province have surged following continuous monsoon rainfall, prompting authorities to open 21 gates of the Koshi Barrage as the river’s discharge crossed 163,000 cusecs.
The flow at the Koshi Barrage reached 163,230 cusecs late Wednesday, according to Sunsari Deputy Superintendent of Police Chandra Bahadur Khadka. Authorities said the river’s discharge could increase further if rainfall continues across eastern Nepal.
To manage the rising water level, 21 of the 56 gates of the Koshi Barrage have been opened. The barrage comprises 52 main gates and four canal gates, bringing the total to 56.
The Koshi Barrage Control Room said that when the river’s discharge exceeds 150,000 cusecs, red warning lights are switched on and red flags are hoisted at the barrage to indicate a potential flood risk.
The Saptakoshi, which remains relatively calm during the dry season, swells rapidly during the monsoon as runoff from major tributaries increases. The river receives water from the Tamor, Arun, Sunkoshi, Dudhkoshi, Tamakoshi, Bhotekoshi, and Indrawati rivers, significantly increasing its volume during the rainy season.
The rising water level heightens the risk of flooding and riverbank erosion in downstream areas of both Nepal and India. During the dry season, however, the river recedes considerably, exposing vast stretches of sandbars along its course.
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