Sunsari, August 17

At least 12 people were killed, 3,000 houses were completely damaged and 15,000 families were displaced in the recent floods in Sunsari.

Floods in various rivers and local streams destroyed houses in all 12 local levels of the district, according to Chief District Officer of Sunsari Gopal Parajuli.

The 15,000 households displaced are in Itahari, Inaruwa, Ramdhuni, Duhabi, Bhokraha, Koshi, Harinagara, Barju, Gadi, Dewangunj and Dharan. Likewise, approximately 40,000 other families in the district have been partially affected by the disaster.

The displaced families have been taking shelters in school buildings, shrines and other public places, as per Sunsari Police Chief Bidhyananda Majhi.

Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force personnel and volunteers from various social organisations have been digging out buried properties from the debris in flood-hit areas.

According to CDO Parajuli, all flood victims have been provided with tents, clothes, food items and utensils. He also said local level representatives were deployed to distribute relief to victims in all 12 local units.

CDO Parajuli, however, said they were yet to assess losses due to the disaster in the district. The number of displaced families is also likely to rise. A team comprising eastern regional administrator Rajeshwor Man Singh, Nepali Army eastern headquarters Chief Gaurab Tandu, Sunsari CDO Parajuli and police chiefs visited various flood-hit regions and took stock of the post-disaster situation today.

Health camps have also been set up in various places to avert possible outbreak of epidemic.