Lucknow, August 27: The Uttar Pradesh government has placed border districts on alert following the flood situation in neighbouring Nepal and directed district administrations to maintain round-the-clock monitoring of river water levels and barrage conditions.
The Relief Commissioner’s office in Lucknow has started 24-hour monitoring, with a dedicated team tracking developments and assisting people stranded in Nepal and their families through the state toll-free helpline 1070.
Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod said 10 calls had been received on the helpline from people reporting loss of contact with family members who had travelled to Nepal.
He said there was currently no immediate flood threat to Uttar Pradesh’s border districts, adding that water levels had not crossed the danger mark despite earlier concerns over downstream flows from Nepal.
The administration is monitoring the Gandak and Narayani rivers, particularly in Maharajganj and Kushinagar districts, and keeping a watch on barrages and embankments on both sides of the border.
Yashod said around 100,000 cusecs of water was currently flowing from the Valmiki Barrage and that the flow did not pose a danger. He also referred to an inflow of around 200,000 cusecs recorded in Kushinagar, Maharajganj and Deoria in July, when the flood situation did not become critical.
Meanwhile, authorities and community organisations in Uttarakhand have expressed concern over the situation in Nepal. Padam Thapa, president of the Gorkhali Sudhar Sabha in Dehradun, said the close social and family ties between India and Nepal had led to concern among the Gorkha community across the country.
Thapa urged people, including students and workers from Nepal living in India, to remain calm and follow government advisories. He also called on authorities in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to remain prepared for possible downstream water movement.
The Chhattisgarh government has issued helpline numbers for residents of the state who are stranded in Nepal. Assistance is available through the Disaster Management Helpline at 1070 and telephone number +91-771-2223471.
Madhya Pradesh has also issued contact details for its residents in Nepal. People seeking assistance can contact 011-26772005, WhatsApp 9818963273, or email recp1mpbhawan@mp.gov.in.
Nepal has reported flash flooding following a surge in the Bhote Koshi River, affecting homes, roads, bridges and hydropower facilities. According to Nepal Embassy sources, 175 bodies have been recovered so far, while several people remain missing.
Around 476 people from 28 countries have been reported missing, although authorities are still verifying the figures as search and rescue operations continue.