Traffic restrictions lifted at Koshi Barrage as water levels decrease

Biratnagar, September 29 — After water levels rose, the restrictions on movement at the Koshi Barrage, which were imposed since Saturday evening, were lifted on Sunday evening.

Although all 56 gates of the barrage were opened, movement was halted from 4 PM on Saturday due to water flow exceeding 600,000 cubic feet per second. Chief District Officer of Sunsari, Ramchandra Tiwari, stated that movement was resumed on Sunday evening because the water flow had decreased and the debris accumulated at the barrage had been cleared.

As of the evening measurement, the flow at Sapta Koshi is currently 350,000 cubic feet per second. On Sunday morning, the flow had reached 661,000 cubic feet per second, but it has been continuously decreasing since then.

Meanwhile, those stranded on Chilaiya Island due to the continuous rainfall are safe. Livestock farmers who had set up shelters in the river area of Barahakshhetra-2, Balchankhoriya, Thakurbasi, and Rajabas were stuck there as the water levels in the Koshi River rose on Saturday. A team from the Nepal Army reached the area by boat this morning to assess their situation, although their rescue had not been possible on Saturday.