Authorities in Rautahat have asked people living along the Bagmati River to move to safer ground after the water level in the Kulekhani reservoir rose to the first warning threshold on Saturday, raising the possibility that the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) may have to release water through the dam’s gates.
The Kulekhani-I Hydropower Project issued its first alert, and the first-stage siren was reported to have sounded when the level reached 1,528.50 metres.
The reservoir’s maximum storage level is 1,530 metres.
The warning is a precaution against a possible sudden rise in downstream flow.
Timeline
At noon, the project had a level of 1,528.15 metres and said it could reach 1,529 metres by about 4 pm if inflow continued. In the afternoon, Rautahat’s Assistant Chief District Officer Hemraj Phuyal said residents along the Bagmati and Sisneri river corridors had been asked to move to safer locations and avoid activity near the river. In the evening, the first siren was reported after the 1,528.50-metre mark was reached.
The Makwanpur administration also suspended vehicle movement on the Bhainse-Bhimphedi-Deurali-Kulekhani road section from 5 pm Saturday to 5 am Sunday because of flood and landslide risks, advising travellers to use the Tribhuvan Rajpath where appropriate.
Why Rautahat is at risk
Water released from the reservoir in Makwanpur would flow into the Sisneri stream and then the Bagmati. The actual risk would depend on the volume and speed of any release, rainfall downstream and the existing level of the Bagmati. The administrations of both Rautahat and Sarlahi urged riverside residents to be cautious.
Residents have been advised to move away from riverbanks and vulnerable spots, avoid travelling at night along the Sisneri and Bagmati corridors, stay out of the river to fish, collect firewood or graze livestock, keep children and animals away, and follow official notices and phone alerts.
NEA’s warning system
The project has a three-stage warning system covering first, second and third alerts, with sirens in downstream areas, and has deployed technicians in the field and control room. Only the first siren has been reported. NEA has said further heavy rain in the catchment could make opening the spillway gates necessary. A controlled release would be a water-management step, not a sign that the dam has failed, but a sudden or large release could be dangerous downstream.
Rain and background
The rise is linked to three days of continuous rain in the Kulekhani area associated with Cyclone Arnab. Weather has gradually improved, but heavy rain in the catchment could still affect the level.
Kulekhani, with Kulekhani-I (60 MW), II (32 MW) and III (14 MW) totalling 106 MW, is Nepal’s major storage hydropower system, so NEA must balance safety against keeping water for dry-season generation.
