Nepal has beefed up security at and around the Koshi Barrage located close to the Nepal-India border after perceived threats of destruction of the dam by international terrorist groups or Islamic militant outfits that could cause a massive flooding mostly in the Bihar state of India.

Officials in Kathmandu and Sunsari districts confirmed that they had received intelligence sharing from the Indian side that international terrorist groups might target the barrage on the border of Sunsari and Saptari districts. Any damage to the facility controlling flood at the largest river of Nepal could unleash a terrible inundation on the Indian side.

The Indian side has alerted us about the possible security threat on the Nepal-India border, particularly in the Koshi Barrage area. The group issuing the threat was, however, not specified, Home Ministry Spokesperson Yadav Koirala told the Post.

At India’s request, the Nepali side has assured “foolproof” security around the barrage built between 1958 and 1962. The communication was made last week from the Indian side through various channels.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu had communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal about the possible security threat from some international terrorist groups that may target the barrage at a time when water level in the Koshi river is flowing above the danger level.

Initially, Baidyanath Yadav, district magistrate of the Saupual District of Bihar, had communicated to the local Birpur Irrigation Department of Bihar about the possible terrorist threat to the barrage, urging it to ask the Nepali side to make security arrangements. The Indian letter mentioned that some international terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Indian Mujahideen are targeting some vital installations on the border including the barrage, Mohan Bahadur Chapagain, chief district officer of Sunsari, told the local media.

Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and National Intelligence Department were alerted about possible threats across the country and the barrage, Spokesperson Koirala added.