ITAHARI: Baraha Kshetra, one of the four major pilgrimage sites for the Hindus, remains at risk of rapid erosion due to the increasing discharge of Saptakoshi River during monsoon for long.

In an interaction programme organised in Inaruwa of Sunsari district, the locals urged the government to chalk out long-term plan for the prevention and protection of the religious heritages including the temples and shrines located in the place.

A temple located in the south of the confluence of the Kokakhola and the Saptakoshi River is at high risk of erosion this monsoon, according to the temple priest Yogesh Bhandari. He added, the temple is in such precarious condition that it might get washed away by flooding in the river any time.

The Koka rivulet flowing from the north towards the confluence and the Koshi River flowing from north-west direction are contributing to the erosion of Baraha Kshetra.

He further stated that there was also a risk of landslides from the hillside above the Baraha Kshetra temple after being affected on the April 25 earthquake.

The participants of the interaction pointed out the urgent need for the government and other stakeholders in the district for adopting flood and landslide prevention and control measures to save the holy place.