Kosi, a river that changed lives
NDTV Correspondent
Friday, August 29, 2008, (Supaul)
At the heart of the flood disaster is a single river, the Kosi. The flood waters entered Bihar from Nepal after the Kosi, which originates there, broke a dam.
It then breached a flood bandh in Bihar. Initially just five metres, the breach is now getting bigger and letting more and more water through.
There are desperate attempts by Indian engineers on the Indo Nepal border to contain the Kosi.
They are trying to plug a 1.7 km long breach in the embankment, which could take at least two months. It may restore the river to its original course.
This year, a good monsoon has meant that Kosi has swelled out of control. There is a contrast of satellite pictures, which show the extent of overflowing water, taken two weeks back and again on Thursday.
On August 17, the river broke the embankment and changed course, taking a completely new route.
Today the river runs through 15 districts of state and as a result, practically half of Bihar is under water.
The problem has been building for some time.
The reason is that one side of the river was fully silted, which created all the pressure at the breach point. It is a breach that has changed the course of the Kosi river after nearly 200 hundred years.
Life has changed permanently for more then 2.5 million people living along the Kosi river. Fifteen districts in Bihar are affected, the worst affected being Supaul, followed by Araria and Madhepura. All three have faced the brunt of Kosi's fury.