KATHMANDU: All the 56 gates of the Gandak Barrage have been opened after the water level rose above the danger mark.
Tara Singh Thapa, an official of the Land Acquisition and Public Relations Office, said that the gates were opened after the water level in the barrage with a capacity of 500,000 cusecs reached 480,000 cusecs.
He said that it is considered high risk to cut 400,000 cusecs of water due to dilapidated barrage. He said that if the water level rises further, the B-Gab dam may burst and the settlement itself may be inundated.
Twenty villages in West Nawalparasi are now at risk due to rising water level. Meanwhile, the administration has urged the locals to be vigilant as the Gandak Barrage and other rivers have started flooding.
Chief District Officer Dharmendra Mishra said that security personnel were on standby to rescue the victims and reduce the damage in the risky areas.