KHALANGA, Aug 5: Authorities in Nepal’s Darchula and Baitadi districts have issued warnings to residents in riverside areas after India opened the floodgates of the Dhauliganga Hydropower Project in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district.
The release of water from the dam, which began early Tuesday morning, has led to a rise in the water level of the Mahakali River. In response, the District Administration Offices of Darchula and Baitadi have urged people living along the riverbanks to remain alert.
Assistant Chief District Officer of Darchula, Mohan Singh Dhami, issued a notice warning that water levels could remain high from 6 AM Tuesday until 6 AM Wednesday. Residents from Dhaulikot in Byas Rural Municipality–5 to Lali in Lekam Rural Municipality are especially advised to stay cautious.
Similarly, Baitadi’s Chief District Officer Punya Bikram Paudel has also called on riverside residents to avoid going near the river. In Baitadi, this includes areas from Sera to Kusmatghat.
Authorities have extended the alert to residents along the Mahakali River in Darchula, Baitadi, Dadeldhura and Kanchanpur, asking them to stay away from the riverbanks and take necessary precautions.