KUSHINAGAR: An atmosphere of apprehension prevailed along the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar border in Kushinagar district following the devastating flash floods in Nepal, with villagers keeping a close watch on water levels through the night. However, residents heaved a sigh of relief on Thursday morning as floodwaters had not entered their homes.
Several routes connecting Shivpur, Basantpur and Marchahwa villages remained waterlogged due to heavy rain and overflowing streams and drains. Villagers were seen wading through knee-deep water, carrying their footwear in their hands, while the rise in water levels brought the movement of small vehicles to a halt. Many residents were forced to use tractor-trolleys to commute.
Local administrations in border areas have issued warnings through loudspeakers, asking people to move their belongings and livestock to higher ground amid reports of water being released from Nepal.
Residents, however, said the immediate danger had not materialised. Guddu Sahani of Basantpur said floodwaters had not entered houses but the low-lying causeway and road had made movement difficult.
“We received information that the water has been released from Nepal. So far, I haven’t heard anything directly from the administration about what they are saying. Moreover, no official has visited our village yet,” Sahani said.
He said the water accumulated on the roads was largely because the causeway and road had been constructed at a low level. “If the water level rises just a little more, boats will start operating. Then we will have to pay Rs 20, Rs 30, Rs 40, or Rs 50 per trip just to commute back and forth,” he said.
Another Basantpur resident, Durgawati Devi, said villagers were concerned about where they would go if they were forced to evacuate their homes along with their cattle.
“Some were saying that we should flee to higher ground along with our cattle and livestock. But if our house is in this waterlogged area, where else will we stay? We have to stay here in the water,” she said.
She added that villagers had heard warnings issued through loudspeakers from nearby Sohagibarwa and said the water level was stable, with no fresh floodwater reaching their side so far.
In Marchahwa, resident Shobhawati said people remained awake until midnight, monitoring the situation. “The water level remains the same as earlier; it is stagnant. People stayed up all night till midnight waiting and keeping watch, but the floodwaters didn’t come,” she said.
She said poor road connectivity was also making evacuation difficult, with some residents moving towards Basahi while others were leaving in different directions.
The flood scare has prompted heightened preparedness in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar following a sudden flash flood in Nepal and a suspected glacial lake outburst flood near the Nepal-China border.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 20 teams across the two states, with nine teams positioned in Bihar and 11 in Uttar Pradesh. The teams have been placed on high alert amid the possibility of a flood wave travelling downstream through the Gandak River.
According to the NDRF, a sudden rise in the Trishuli River at Furke Khola in Nepal, around 160 km from the Indian border, was reported amid suspected GLOF activity near the Nepal-China border. The Central Water Commission has advised authorities in vulnerable areas of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to remain alert and closely monitor the Gandak River.
The developments follow devastating flash floods in Nepal’s Bhotekoshi River that killed at least 157 people and left nearly 400 missing, according to reports. The mid-morning deluge struck three districts, sweeping away people, homes, vehicles and critical infrastructure.
The disaster was reportedly triggered after an avalanche blocked the flow of the Lhende tributary of the Bhotekoshi, sending a sudden surge towards Timure near the China border and downstream towards Syaphrubesi. With no rainfall reported in the area at the time, residents had little warning before the flood struck.