Kosi may wipe out 2 districts in Bihar
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26/08/2008
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Economic Times (New Delhi)
Ashok K Mishra BIHAR
BIHAR'S sorrow, the Kosi, has changed its course near Kusaha village in Nepal for the first time in the last 50 years after breaching the East Kosi afflux embankment threatening millions of lives. Over 12 lakh people are trapped between the old and the new streams of the river leading to plans for unprecendented evacuation effort in the northern part of the state.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar has appealed to the people of the twin districts of Madhepura and Supaul, that may be wiped off the map, to abandon houses and find shelter in relief camps.
"It is not a normal flood, but a catastrophe,' said Mr Kumar after making an aerial survey of the ravaged districts. "The people will have to be evacuated . Boats have been pressed into service so that the they can be moved to relief camps. At least 10 lakh people mainly from Madhepura and Supaul will have to be evacuated,' he added.
At present , the level of water discharge from Kosi is 1 lakh cusec affecting lakh of people in Madhepura and Supaul. Although four more districts