A huge landslide in the upper reaches of river Gandak in Nepal, which has resulted in the formation of an artificial lake due to blockage, has put officials and engineers posted at the Gandak basin in Bihar on high alert. This lake could burst due to the pressure of accumulated water. The landslide comes as an aftermath of the two massive earthquakes to hit Nepal in the last one month.
According to WRD officials, the initial report of the landslide and blockage in the upper reaches have come from sources in Nepal, after which the alert was issued.
Initial reports coming from Nepal states that a massive landslide had occurred 140 km northwest of Kathmandu and caused blockage of river Kali Gandaki in Nepal on Saturday. This led to the formation of a growing deep artificial lake. It has formed 10 km upstream of the river near Beni Bazar in Myagdi district of Nepal. There are seven districts of Nepal from which this river passes including Myagdi district. The river then enters India on the border of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar where the river is called Gandak.
Around two years back, a similar situation had occurred when an artificial lake formed in the Sun Kosi River in Nepal due to a landslide there.
Image credit: floodlist.com
