Satish Aditya
Motihari : The swollen Gandak river, after breaching its left embankment at Bhawanipur under Sangrampur block in East Champaran District inundated areas under Kesariya Nagar Panchayat and submerged the entire campus of world famous Buddha Stupa at Keasaria, 110 km from Patna,on July 25, 2020. The campus of the world heritage monument has turned into veritable water pool with chest deep water flowing on the campus.
On August 8, 2020, the boundarywall of the Buddha Stupa campus collapsed in 50 metres in south-eastern sidedue to flood. The boundarywall was constructed in 1,200 metre in 2019 by ASI, Patna. Dr P Ojha, a founder member of Kesariya Budha Mahotsav, said, “We may loss this heritage site if the flood keeps ravaging it every year. The prolonged waterlogging on its campus will damage the world’s tallest stupa.” Dr Chandranshu, a social activists and writer, has also expressed concern over the plight of this world heritage monument.
Art, Culture and Youth Affairs Minister, Bihar Government, Pramod Kumar, said that he has informed the Archaeological
department officials at Patna urging asking them to preserve the Stupa.