By B G Verghese The Kosi crisis should bond India and Nepal as it underlines a deeper truth, namely, a geo-physical relationship. A catastrophe long feared occurred on August 18. The wayward Kosi burst through its eastern embankment in Nepal at Kushaha, by-passing the Bhimnagar barrage constructed at the international border 12 km further south, carving out a new course along its historically easternmost limits from which it had started migrating westwards some 200 years ago. Two districts in Nepal and maybe 10 in Bihar have been inundated, affecting a population of 70,000 and 2.5 million persons respectively, with the possibility of these numbers increasing with any further surge of swollen waters. The jilted Kosi barrage is reportedly now passing only 20,000 cusecs of water as against 240,000 cusecs flowing through the Kushaha breach in Nepal that has widened to something approaching 1.6 km. Maintenance of the barrage and embankments on both sides of the border was an Indian responsibility under the aegis of the Ganga Flood Control Commission which outsourced actual works to the Bihar government. The usual blame game has started within Bihar and between it and the Centre and even Nepal with an eye to electoral advantage when the need of the hour is a united resolve to overcome the crisis jointly. Accountability must surely be fixed, but a little later, through an independent Indo-Nepal commission of inquiry which can do the job within weeks instead of the months and years normally sought and given to fudge responsibility. Punishment must be swift and condign as embankment maintenance has traditionally sustained huge corruption at the cost of lives and welfare. The immediate task is obviously relief for and rehabilitation of the victims and their livestock and the restoration of livelihoods. Prophylactic health measures must be a high priority if raging epidemics are to be avoided. The PM has sanctioned Rs 1,000 crore for relief in respect of this