With accumulation of water behind the blocked Bhote Kosi, tributary of the Kosi River in Nepal, rising to 32 lakh cusecs today from 25 lakh cusecs earlier and the threat of deluge looming large over Bihar, Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said the "situation may turn fearsome".
"Right now the situation is looking normal because the discharge of water is low. But water accumulation at the blocked Bhote Kosi has increased anywhere between 28 and 32 lakh cusecs. If the dam that has come into existence due to landslide there breaks then the situation may turn fearsome," Manjhi said.
Talking to mediapersons after an aerial survey along the route of Kosi from Khagaria to Birpur barrage, he said water is being discharged in the river after three or four controlled blasts at the place where the tributary is blocked, but the amount is less.
"We are prepared to tackle the situation. Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have been deployed. People are being evacuated to relief camps. We are appealing to those who are left behind to move out as adequate arrangements of police have been made to safeguard their houses and property," Manjhi said.
The Chief Minister pointed out people are hopeful that the Kosi embankment will not breach as its width has reached up to 1 km. He said the embankment will not be allowed to be breached in any case.
He also said there was no danger to Birpur barrage, which has a capacity of 9 lakh cusecs of water. All the 56 gates of the barrage have been opened to protect it if there is a very heavy flow of water down the Kosi.
Manjhi said he has talked to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on the imminent flood threat, and they have promised all help from the Centre.
