Kathmandu. The Sunsari administration has intensified disaster response preparedness with the rising water level in the Saptakoshi River. Meanwhile, Chief District Officer Basudev Ghimire and a team of security agencies inspected the Koshi Barrage.

The flow of water in the Koshi Barrage has reached 151,195 cusecs per second and 20 gates of the barrage have been opened. When the water flow in the river reaches 150,000 cusecs per second, red beacons are lit as a signal of high alertness.

Following the monitoring, Chief District Officer Ghimire said the disaster response plan was being implemented in the district considering the risk of flood, inundation and erosion. He said the responsibilities of all bodies involved in disaster management have been clearly defined and necessary procedures have been prepared.

He said the district administration and security agencies are ready for rescue, relief, relocation of the affected people to safer areas during the rainy season and for rehabilitation if necessary.

Chief District Officer Ghimire shared that the Koshi Barrage bridge and the weak embankment have been repaired and the concerned project, district administration and security personnel were on standby for immediate mobilization in case any erosion or damage to embankment at any place due to heavy floods.

The monitoring team comprised of District Police Office Sunsari Police Chief Keshav Kumar Thebe, Sub-Investigation Director of National Investigation District Office, Sunsari, Bimal Ghimire, and representatives of security bodies.