Bihar government ready as water level of Kosi rises: Nitish

Patna, Jun 20: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today (June 20) said the state government was "ready and alert" and all precautionary measures had been taken and rescue work started following reports of increase in the water level of River Kosi.

Turbulent Kosi had in October 2008 breached its embankment in Kusaha in Nepal and charted its new course causing unprecedented floods in Bihar's five districts -- Araria, Purnia, Saharsa, Supaul and Madhepura -- rendering lakhs homeless.

"We are alert and ready... all precautionary measures have been taken for flood protection and rescue works", Kumar told reporters, adding preparations were being taken on a war-footing for rescue operations.

Referring to his attempts to pressurise the Centre to hold talks with Nepal to ensure excavation of a pilot channel to ease pressure on its eastern embankment, he said the two sides had agreed for excavation of 1.5 km pilot channel but the work was yet to begin as the official order had not yet reached the lower authorities in Nepal.

The Chief Minister heard the grievances of more than 300 people during today's Janata Darbar after Kumar's week-long tour of China last week.

PTI