No threat of flood in Kosi area for 24 hours

, Aug 4: There was 24 hour respite in the flood threat in nine

districts as Nepal did not conduct any blast today to open the mouth of the blocked Bhote

, a tributary of Kosi River.

"We have received information from Nepal through the central government that Nepal will not conduct any blast today to open the mouth of blocked Bhote Kosi river on which an artificial lake has been created due to an avalanche," Principal Secretary to the Disaster Management Department (DMD) Vyasji told reporters.

Controlled blasts were conducted in that country yesterday following which water level in Kosi river had risen to 32 lakh cusecs from 25 lakh cusecs earlier. Vyasji said as per information received from Nepal there was no rainfall during the day so far though there was forecast of about 60-80 mm of rainfall in Nepal. It would have led to further accumulation of water in Bhote Kosi at Jure in Sindhupaehok district, which is about 100 km from Kathmandu and around 200 km from Bihar-Nepal border.

"There has been report from Central Water Commission of Nepal that water level is receding at a rate of 3 inch per hour in the blocked Bhote Kosi," he said adding there had, however, been conflicting reports about the depth of the lake caused due to the landslide.

Initial reports put the depth at 80 m but subsequent reports suggest it could be 40 to 60 m. The Indian team that had gone to the spot could only make an aerial survey of the spot, he said. Water experts had said that in the event of water gushing into India due to blasts it would take at least 20 hours to reach Birpur barrage in Supual district of Bihar, he said.

Vyasji said he and other state government officials would have a meeting with central government officials through video conferencing. "On the basis of latest inputs received after this video conference meeting, the Bihar government crisis management group will meet to plan for reinforcing relief and rehabilitation measures," he added.

PTI