Narayani River Nears Danger Mark in Nawalparasi as Flood Risk Rises

The water level in the Narayani River in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat-Susta East) has risen close to the danger mark.According to the water measurement centre at Devghat, the river’s water level reached 8.98 metres at 3 pm today.

A water level of nine metres at the Devghat gauge is considered the danger mark, while 7.3 metres is the warning level.

The centre said the water level at Devghat is continuing to rise.

The river crossed the warning level on Friday night.Chief District Officer Jagadishwar Upadhyay said residents in riverside areas were being moved to safer locations as the river’s flow continued to increase.

“We are moving people at risk from the floods to safer locations and using public announcements to warn people not to go near the river,” he said.Gaidakot, Devchuli, Kawasoti and Madhyabindu municipalities, along with Binayi Tribeni Rural Municipality, are at risk from flooding in the Narayani River, according to the chief district officer.Boudikali and Bulingtar rural municipalities are at risk from flooding and landslides along the Kaligandaki River.

Upadhyay said affected people were being moved to safer locations.

Security agencies in the district have been placed on high alert for rescue and relief operations.“We have taken all possible measures to minimise losses from disasters in the district,” Upadhyay said.

“Security agencies have been kept on alert for rescue and relief if a disaster occurs.”

All 36 gates of the Gandak Barrage at Triveni in Nawalpur have been opened after the Narayani River crossed the warning level.According to Senior Sub-Inspector Suresh Pal, chief of the Area Police Office in Triveni, citing the Gandak Barrage in Balmiki Nagar, the water flow at the barrage has reached 300,400 cusecs.

A flow of 300,000 cusecs at the barrage is considered the warning level, Pal said.

All gates of the Gandak Barrage have remained open since Friday night as the river’s flow increased.

Water in both the Nepal- and India-bound canals connected to the river has been completely shut off, he said.

Pal said the water level at the barrage continues to rise, with the upstream level reaching 359.2 feet and the downstream level 357.6 feet.

He said parts of Susta have been inundated as the water flow at the barrage increased, and efforts are underway to move flood-affected people to safer locations.