Rajbiraj, September 3:

Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta today said the

government would operate free motorboat and rafting boat services from Laukahi to Bhantabari of Sunsari district where the Saptakoshi River breached its embankments and cut off the highway.

Talking to mediapersons after observing the damaged embankments in Paschim

Kusaha VDC, Gupta said motor boats operating in Narayani river and rafting boats of Nepal Army would be mobilised in Koshi to ferry people to and from Sunsari until the transport services resumed on the highway.

He also said transport services was not likely to resume immediately unless the embankment was fully reconstructed.

Gupta said the Indian government was ready to allow Indian roads as transit to reach Biratnagar. But sadly, the roads are damaged in Bihar as well.

He also acquired information from Indian technicians repairing the embankment at the breach site about the progress made so far.

Minister for Health and Population Giriraj Mani Pokharel also visited the barrage breach site in Paschim Kusaha today.

While visiting the flood victims at the Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital, Pokharel said the government was preparing to introduce a medical treatment package for the victims.