Patna: Catastrophic flash floods in Nepal’s Bhote Koshi river have triggered a high alert across the bordering districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, as regional authorities brace for a sudden and dangerous surge in the water levels of the Gandak and Narayani rivers.
The flash flood, which struck Nepal’s Rasuwa district following a massive and abrupt rush of water from the Tibetan side, has left a trail of severe devastation. According to initial reports, several people have lost their lives, and over 1,000 individuals are feared missing. Rescue and search operations are currently operating on a war footing in the affected Himalayan regions.
In response to the looming downstream threat, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered the administrations of bordering districts like Maharajganj and Kushinagar to remain highly vigilant. Describing the situation across the border as deeply concerning, Adityanath prayed to Lord Pashupatinath for the safety of those caught in the disaster.
“The destruction caused by the severe floods in the Bhote Koshi river in Nepal’s Rasuwa region is extremely worrying,” the Chief Minister noted. He instructed local officials to continuously monitor river water levels and maintain readiness to evacuate residents from low-lying areas at a moment’s notice.
Similarly, the Bihar government has preemptively sounded the alarm across multiple districts, anticipating a sudden water discharge into the Gandak river basin. Authorities in West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sitamarhi, and Sheohar have been directed to finalize emergency preparations. Local administrations are actively setting up relief camps, arranging rescue boats, and organizing community kitchens to support potential evacuees.
To mitigate the risk of infrastructure failure, the state has mandated round-the-clock surveillance of dams and river embankments. Officials have been specifically instructed to conduct intensive night patrolling to identify and immediately reinforce vulnerable sections of the embankments. In highly sensitive zones, local authorities are using public address systems and loudspeakers to broadcast warning messages, urging residents to remain cautious.
Disaster response mechanisms have also been fully activated. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are strategically positioned to launch immediate relief operations. Officials confirmed that an NDRF unit is being dispatched to Gopalganj, while another remains on standby in Muzaffarpur. Additional rapid deployment plans have been finalized for Bettiah, heavily utilizing the Quick Response Teams (QRT) of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) to tackle any impending crisis.