Lake bursts in Nepal, Bihar sounds flood alert in Kosi

The over two-kilometer long artificial lake created by last month’s massive landslide which blocked Nepal’s Sunkoshi River burst early on Sunday morning.

The over two-kilometer long artificial lake created by last month’s massive landslide which blocked Nepal’s Sunkoshi River burst early on Sunday morning.

According to Nepal Army personnel present on the site, water level on the lake came down significantly within hours of the lake bursting at 4:00am.

Though there has been a rise in the water level of the river downstream due to the lake bursting there is no report yet of any damage or destruction.

Chief district officer Gopal Prasad Parajuli informed that residents of some villages lying downstream have been moved to safer places and the situation is under control.

Traffic on the Arniko Highway which runs along the river has been stopped as a safety measure.

Meanwhile, an alert has been sounded in Saptari district bordering north Bihar as water level of Sapta Koshi (the name given to Sun Koshi downstream) started rising following the lake burst.

According to state-run Rastriya Samachar Samiti, the water flow at Koshi Barrage on the Indo-Nepal border was recorded as 114,380 cusec on Sunday afternoon.

Sudden increase in water level of the river could lead to floods in northern Bihar bordering Nepal where the river enters India.

The lake was created following a massive landslide at Sindhupalchowk district on August 2 which claimed 157 lives.

Since the past one month, Nepal Army has been conducting controlled blasts at the dam created by landslide to provide outlet to the accumulated water of the artificial lake.

It is believed the blasts coupled with Saturday night’s heavy downpour could have resulted in the lake bursting.

In August 2008, the eastern embankments of the Kosi Barrage had collapsed due to heavy rains leading to massive flooding in north Bihar that killed many and left over a million homeless.