Bihar on high alert as Nepal flash floods raise Gandak River surge risk

Patna: Bihar has stepped up vigilance and preparedness measures as deadly flash floods in Nepal's Rasuwa region left people dead and hundreds of foreign nationals, including Indians, reported missing, raising concerns over a possible sudden surge in the Gandak River.

The Bihar Disaster Management Department said special monitoring was being maintained following the emergence of a flash-flood situation in the upper catchment of the Gandak River in Nepal and the possibility of a sharp increase in water flow downstream.

At least 105 Indian tourists are among 291 foreign nationals reported missing after the flash flood in Nepal's Rasuwa area, according to the Nepal Tourism Board. The missing foreign nationals also include 17 Malaysians, 12 Britons, four South Africans, three Americans, one Australian and one Dutch national. The nationalities of another 103 missing people are yet to be confirmed.

The sudden flooding has affected areas near the Nepal-Tibet border, with Timure and Syafrubesi in Rasuwa among the worst-hit locations. Four bodies -- three men and a woman -- were also recovered from Nuwakot district following the disaster, according to Nepalese authorities.

Against this backdrop, Bihar authorities have warned of a potential flash-flood risk in districts along the Gandak River and directed officials to keep rescue and relief arrangements ready.

"A high risk of flash floods is forecast for the Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Lamjung, and Tanahun districts (Gandak catchment) and the Dolakha and Sindhupalchok districts (Kosi catchment) in Nepal," the Disaster Management Department said.

Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit chaired a high-level review meeting on Wednesday, attended through video conferencing by District Magistrates and senior police officials, including Superintendents of Police, from the districts concerned.

Officials reviewed the evolving situation and were instructed to maintain heightened vigilance and ensure that all preparedness measures for rescue and relief operations remained in place.

The Water Resources Department has also directed officials to release water through all gates of the Gandak Barrage and its associated canals to manage the available water flow safely and effectively.

Water resources officials and engineers have been asked to maintain round-the-clock vigilance in their respective areas and closely monitor critical infrastructure, including embankments.

Authorities in Bihar are continuing to track developments in Nepal and the resulting water levels in the Gandak system as they prepare for any sudden rise in downstream flows.