Bihar stops evacuation in 3 dists after easing of flood threat

In view of easing of flood threat, following assurance from Nepal that accumulated water in Bhote Kosi will be released in a regulated manner, Bihar today decided to halt evacuation process in Supaul, Madhepura and Saharsa but the alert remained in force.
The state government also asked 1.14 lakh people who have been evacuated and put in 93 relief camps in these districts to return to their villages as threat of flash flood has receded after assurance from Nepal, Principal Secretary, Disaster Management Department (DMD) Vyasji told reporters.
The Bihar government after receiving relevant inputs from
the Union government yesterday had decided to lift alert from six districts in Kosi belt but persist with evacuation in three districts of Supual, Saharsa and Madhepura, first point of contact in India on Indo-Nepal border.

"We reviewed the situation today. The Nepal government has said the trapped water in Bhote Kosi will be released in a regulated manner by widening three existing holes in the landslide debris" and there will not be any blasting exercise, Vyasji said after talks with the Union government about latest situation in the Himalayan country.
"We have decided to withdraw the alert following recession of chance of flash flood in Kosi river. The evacuation process has been stopped in Supaul, Madhepura and Saharsa districts and people living in the relief camps have been asked to return in view of this," added Vyasji.

But the state will still keep a tab on the situation to meet any eventuality, the DMD Principal Secretary said.
People in the danger zone, that is, the area between the Kosi River and its embankments have been told to remain prepared to be evacuated at short notice if it is needed, he said.
"The five columns of Army, 15 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and four teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) will remain in he event of any eventuality and to instill confidence among people," Vyasji added.