The Koshi Barrage control room said the water level suddenly started rising after three in the afternoon and reached this year´s high when measured two hours later. [break]The level was 111,000 cusec at three and reached 177,975 within an hour pipping previous high for this year of 157,200 recorded on June 25.
The red light in the eastern part of the barrage has been lit to indicate danger after water flow crossed 150,000 cusec. The red light in the western part is lit after the level crosses 200,000 cusec and the one in the middle after 300,000 cusec. Half of the 56 gates in the barrage has been opened following the rise in water flow and more gates will be opened according to requirement, Koshi Barrage Police Office said.
Chief District Officer (CDO) of Sunsari Laxman Bahadur Thapa said officials from both Nepal and India will monitor the water level to avert probable risk. “I contacted Indian engineer Mahesh Thakaur immediately after water level started to rise after three. He told me there is no need for immediate worry,” CDO Thapa said.
The water level was 178,000 cusec when the embankment was breached on the eastern side on August 18, 2008. The barrage was constructed to withstand pressure of 800,000 cusec when it was completed in early 1960s.
But if the water flow were to reach 800,000 cusec, water would overflow from both eastern and western sides of the barrage as the capacity of barrage has been drastically reduced by massive sedimentation, experts claim. The water level crosses 300,000 cusec every year but it has not crossed 400,000 cusec for a long time.
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