KATHMANDU: Authorities have stepped up flood preparedness across the country following forecasts of heavy rainfall, with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) saying the Koshi Barrage gates will be opened if river discharge reaches dangerous levels.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the NDRRMA Pradeep Kumar Koirala said the gates of the Koshi Barrage would be opened gradually today if the river’s water level continues to rise and the flood risk increases.
Meanwhile, Binod Parajuli, a flood expert at the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, said river flows are being monitored continuously and that 21 districts are currently at moderate risk of flooding.
The Authority said it has completed the necessary preparations for rescue and emergency response in coordination with security agencies. It has urged local governments, security agencies and other stakeholders to remain on high alert and take additional precautions in riverbank settlements and landslide-prone areas.
The NDRRMA has also advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel and movement in flood- and landslide-prone areas.
Meanwhile, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has urged people across the country to remain vigilant, warning that heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next few days could trigger floods, landslides and inundation in vulnerable areas.
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