Flood threat averted in Bihar

Hundreds of thousands in Bihar breathe easy on Tuesday as the threat of impending flood averted. However, the government has kept 3 districts - Saharsa, Supual and Madhepura - on maximum alert as they still constitute ground zero.

The state government officials stated that the Nepal government has given up the option to blast the debris of the landslide, which created a 1 km long lake-like formation on the tributaries of Kosi. Officials have informed that the Nepalese Army would now only widen 3 holes already drilled through the debris to ensure controlled outflow of the water. So far there has been almost 3 million cusec of water trapped in that lake formation.

The state government has repeatedly pleaded through the MEA for controlled explosion for release the trapped water, which has been accepted by the Kathmandu.

"The centre has relied Nepal Government's decision on small blasts to widen the holes, which were drilled on the nights of Saturday and Sunday. It would result in controlled and slow outflow of the water, after which we took a sigh of relief," said a senior official in the Disaster Management Department. Due to this the threat of an impending catastrophe has been averted in most of the endangered districts.

The state government officials have informed that Khagaria, Araria, Purnia, Madhubani, Dharbhanga and Bhagalpur are safe now, while the danger in remaining three districts - Supual, Saharsa and Madhepura - has also been lessened. However but as these three districts still constitute ground zero, the administration has kept them on maximum alert.

Meanwhile, as lessen levels of threat in many districts, the administration has abandoned its plan to move people from their homes in those districts. It is ready to let people move back to their homes, if they are willing.

The Air Force has also withdrawn three of its six choppers, which were deployed in Bihar to help the state government in evacuation, search and relief operations.

However, the team of doctors, which arrived on Monday, has been asked to stay in the state till the end of this week.