Patna: Around four lakh people are likely to be hit in the nine Bihar districts of Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura, Khagaria, Purnia, Araria, Madhubani, Darbhanga and Bhagalpur, as the Kosi terror is on the cards once again. The state government has ordered forcible shifting of people living between the two Kosi embankments.
Just when the 2008 flood-hit people of Bihar had started leading their normal lives, the Kosi threat comes as a horror dream for them, yet again. There is no end to the Kosi woes for the people of Bihar. The Centre and the state government are in a state of extraordinary preparedness to face any eventuality precipitated by the release of 28 lakh cusecs of water accumulated in a lake-like formation caused by massive landslide in river Bhatta Kosi on the Nepal side.
The landslide point is located 260km from the Birpur Kosi barrage in Supaul district of Bihar. On the requisition of Nepal government, the Indian experts on Sunday morning drilled three holes in the 1km-wide debris to facilitate controlled flow of water downstream the river. As the flow of water from the site is slow after the drilling, the situation is deemed to be normal. However, the experts are most likely to blast the debris on Monday after which the accumulated water will gush through and take around 17 hours to reach the Birpur barrage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day tour of Nepal, which has added to the pressing concerns on both the sides to minimise the scale of disaster.
Five columns of Army jawans would reach the districts concerned. Two columns each would be deployed in Supaul and Madhepura districts. Indian Air Force (IAF) would keep choppers ready at the Chunapur (Purnia) and Bihta (Patna) airbases. Fifteen teams of NDRF and four teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) with necessary equipment and inflatable motor boats have been deployed in the nine vulnerable districts for rescue and relief operations. As many as 15 satellite phones have also been provided, including to the DMs and SPs concerned, as part of communications.
The 56 gates of Birpur barrage have been kept opened to discharge excess water. Further, only 40% of the 28 lakh cusecs of accumulated water – around 11.2 lakh cusecs that is 2.2 lakh cusecs higher than the 1968 highest flood level — would reach the barrage to flow further down the stream.
49,140 persons were displaced to camp at various shelters – Supaul (15,500), Saharsa (10,000), Madhepura (540), Khagaria (10,000), Madhubani (10,000), Bhagalpur (3,000) and Darbhanga (100).
On Saturday itself, the state government had issued orders to people in the nine districts to leave the ‘danger zone’ for safety at various camps, failing which they would be lifted forcibly as part of the evacuation drive, DMD’s officer on special duty Gagan Jee said. The trapped persons have been asked to move to the camps, schools or to the houses of their relatives. The state government has opened 123 relief camps and 31 cattle shelters. Around 150 government boats, over and above private boats, have been kept ready in the nine districts.