As the water level in the Kulekhani reservoir continued to rise on Saturday, the District Administration Offices of Sarlahi and Rautahat placed riverside communities along the Bagmati River and connected areas on high alert, warning that the reservoir’s main gates may need to be opened. Both administrations urged residents in settlements near the river to take precautions and move to safe locations.
Authorities issue riverside safety warnings
The District Administration Office Sarlahi asked people living along the Bagmati River to remain on high alert amid the rising reservoir level. Its warning pointed to the possibility that the main gates at Kulekhani could have to be opened. Residents were advised not to wait until conditions worsen before moving away from riverbank settlements and toward safer places.
The District Administration Office Rautahat issued a similar notice, calling on people in riverside areas connected to the Bagmati River to take high precautions. The notice also advised residents of riverside settlements to relocate to safe locations. The two advisories were issued on Saturday as concern grew over the rising water level at the reservoir.
The warnings apply particularly to communities living close to the river and its connected riverside areas. Residents in those locations were asked to take the instructions seriously and remain alert to information from local authorities. The notices describe a potential need to open the reservoir’s main gates, rather than confirming that the gates have already been opened.
Possible gate opening prompts precaution
The possibility of opening the main gates is central to the administrations’ warnings. With the reservoir level rising, officials have urged downstream communities to prepare for the possibility of a change in water conditions and to move to safety. The advisories emphasize precautionary action for settlements along the river rather than waiting for a further announcement before responding.
For residents in Sarlahi and Rautahat, the immediate message from the authorities is to stay alert and avoid remaining in vulnerable riverside locations. People have been asked to follow the advice to relocate to safe areas, especially those living near the Bagmati River or in places connected to it. The notices make clear that the risk being addressed is linked to the rising reservoir level and the possibility that its gates may need to be opened.
Residents urged to follow local notices
The Saturday warnings from both district administrations underline the need for residents in the identified riverside settlements to act cautiously. People in the affected areas should pay attention to further instructions from their local administration and take the relocation advice seriously. The notices do not describe a confirmed gate opening; they warn that opening the main gates may become necessary as the reservoir level continues to rise.
The alert covers communities on both sides of the Bagmati River response: Sarlahi residents along the river and people in Rautahat’s riverside areas connected to it. For both districts, the administrations’ advice is consistent - remain on high alert, take precautions and move to a safe location. The warnings are intended to give riverside residents time to respond to the possibility of changing conditions as authorities monitor the reservoir level.
