Koshi River Crisis: Red Alert Triggered as Water Flow Shatters Records at 215,000+ Cusecs

The Koshi River is in a critical state as continuous rainfall in the upper catchment areas has driven water levels to unprecedented heights, officially triggering a red danger signal at the Koshi Barrage. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology confirmed that the river's flow has surged past 215,135 cusecs, a volume that has forced authorities to open 28 sluice gates to manage the excess water and prevent catastrophic flooding.

Hydrologist Saraswati Bista has issued a stark warning that if rainfall persists, the water level could cross the alert threshold by Monday, escalating the risk for downstream communities. Local authorities across the region remain on high alert as monitoring data shows the flow is still on an increasing trend, with measurements taken at 7:00 am recording 214,745 cusecs compared to 211,225 cusecs just an hour earlier.

The red light, which marks danger at the barrage, has been illuminated to signal the severity of the situation to residents living along the riverbanks and in downstream settlements. While 28 gates are currently open out of the total 56, officials have prepared contingency plans to open up to 52 gates if the water volume continues to climb. Despite the alarming rise in water levels, security officials noted that no water-induced damage has been reported in the area as of the latest checks, though the situation remains volatile.

Residents in Udayapur, Sunsari, and Saptari are urged to exercise extreme caution and stay alert as the river faces its highest flow levels of the year due to the relentless monsoon rains in the mountainous regions. The situation underscores the immediate flood risks posed by the Saptakoshi River as it approaches critical capacity.