Rajbiraj, July 7

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today announced that the government would provide cash and concessional loan in relief to flood victims of Saptari, besides reconstructing  embankment in several locations, damaged by the recent floods in the district.

He made the announcement after taking stock of the flood-hit areas and visiting flood victims in Tirhut Rural Municipality of the district today. The media had widely covered the massive damages caused by floods in the district.

A team comprising PM Deuba, Home Minister Janardan Sharma and lawmakers from Saptari had reached flood-hit areas to take stock of the situation there and relief distribution and rescue works.

The team led by PM Deuba inspected a 2-km embankment that was swept away by a flood in the locality. The PM lauded security personnel and the general public for their relentless efforts in reconstructing the embankment in several places.

On the occasion, the victims urged the PM to seek a long-term solution to the flooding problem caused by the local Mahuli and Khado rivers during monsoon every year, rather than distribute grant and relief to them.

In response, PM Deuba assured the locals that their concerns would be addressed by speeding up repair and maintenance work. He said the government would provide Rs 25,000 cash to each of the flood-affected families so that they could make makeshift shelters for immediate use. He further said that the government would provide Rs 15,000,000 as concession loan to the flood-affected households.

PM Deuba also expressed his commitment that he would take necessary steps to initiate the reconstruction of damaged embankments in the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Home Minister Janardan Sharma said, “The government is with you all at this hour of crisis. It will do all necessary work for immediate relief.” He also directed Chief District Officer of Saptari Krishna Bahadur Katawal to proceed ahead with rehabilitation of locals displaced by the natural disaster.

Dozens of rural municipalities, including Bhedia, Raghunathpur, Mainakanderi, Tilathi, Maleth, Basabitthi, have been badly affected by floods over the last few days.