Not excess water, but neglected embankment caused the flood

India has blamed the previous seven breaches on the Kosi embankment on Nepal releasing water from the barrage at Bhimnagar, even though Nepal has no control over the sluice gates. All the earlier breaches had occurred downstream of the barrage. But this year the breach happened upstream of the barrage and the flow was less than what normally is during floods. So what caused the flood this time?
It is a clear indication of lack of maintenance of the embankment, says D K Mishra, water expert and former Bihar engineer, who has been studying the Kosi since 1984. India is responsible for the upkeep of the embankment and the barrage on the Kosi in Nepal, under the Indo-Nepal Kosi treaty of 1954.