Water level in the Rapti River decreases

By Siraj Khan, Nepalgunj, Aug 6: The threat of major flooding and inundation has been averted as the water level has gradually receded by Wednesday morning, even though the water level in the Rapti River crossed the warning level on Tuesday morning due to incessant rains for three days.

According to Rupan Gyawali, Information Management Officer at the District Disaster Management Committee, the threat of flooding and inundation has been averted for now as the water level has receded to normal.

He said that the water level at the Rapti Sonari Hydrological Station of the western Rapti River in Banke district crossed the warning level on Tuesday and reached 4.92 meters, but later gradually decreased and the water level dropped to 3.43 meters by Wednesday morning.

"Similarly, at the Rapti River flood monitoring center in Kusum area of Banke, the water level reached 5.74 meters near the alert point on Tuesday, but it has decreased to 3. 51 meters by Wednesday," said Information Management Officer Gyawali.

He said that there is a possibility that the river level may rise as the rain is still continuing and that residents of the coastal areas have been requested to remain alert.

According to Gyawali, on Tuesday, a notice was issued to villages and settlements in the coastal areas of Banke to be alert as the level of the Rapti River began to rise rapidly.

As per the system, an official warning is issued once the level reaches 6 meters, and it currently stands at 5.74 meters.

The District Disaster Management Committee, Banke, expressed concern that the river level may continue to rise as it has been raining continuously in Banke, Dang, Rolpa, and Pyuthan for two or three days.

Due to the construction of the Laxmanpur Dam and Kalkalwa Embankment by India in violation of international rules, the river is not able to flow naturally, and the water level in the Rapti River in Nepali territory has increased.