UP, Bihar, Uttarakhand rush to evacuate as Nepal floods kill 160

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand are on high alert as flash floods in Nepal's Bhote Koshi River have claimed at least 160 lives and left hundreds of tourists, including 133 Indians, missing. The floods are believed to have been triggered by a combination of heavy rain, barrages being opened, and the release of water from glacial lakes.

In Bihar, the government has ordered the evacuation of people living in low-lying areas in five districts - West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Sapaul, and Muzaffarpur. The discharge from the Valmikinagar barrage has been increased to 300,000 cusecs, with all 36 gates of the barrage being opened in phases as a precautionary measure. The water level in the Devghat gauge site in Nepal is currently at 4.77 meters, below the warning level of 7.30 meters and the danger mark of nine meters.

The Bihar government has formed a committee to monitor the situation, with a state disaster response force team being dispatched to evacuate families living in vulnerable areas. Uttar Pradesh has also issued an alert to Maharajganj and Kushinagar districts bordering Nepal. The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, has assured the Bihar Chief Minister of all possible assistance from the Centre in handling the potential crisis.