As torrential rains continue for the second day in a row, normal life in various parts of Nepal has been crippled.
Saptkoshi, a major river that flows into India, poses a risk of flooding in eastern Nepal.
Reports from across the country suggest that at least three people have died in mid- Nepal, washed away by the flood on Friday. Some parts of two highways--Prithvi and Siddartha--were blocked by landslides.
On Friday, the flow of the water in the river, known locally as Koshi, was recorded at 146,080 cubic feet per second (cusec), or 65.6 million gallons a minute, which is just around 4,000 cusec (1.8 million gpm) below flood stage. With no decrease in rainfall, fears have gripped residents of the area of possible repeat flooding.
Reports have quoted experts saying that this time the floods might be more destructive as the embankments have been deposited with a lot of silt.
In August 2008, the river breached its eastern embankment at Pashim Kusaha in Sunsari and flooded areas in Nepal and India and left half a dozen villages inundated, rendering around 50,000 people homeless and affecting millions on both sides of the border.
On Thursday evening, 19 of the 56 floodgates of the Koshi dam were opened. Returning from a field visit to the area, Home Secretary Lilamani Poudel expressed concerns over the increasing water level in the river. Poudel ruled out any immediate danger but acknowledged the potential dangers.
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