RAUTAHAT: The flood affected denizens of Durga Bhagawati Rural Municipality-5, Rautahat have knocked on the door of Chief District Officer Udhhav Bahadur Thapa after being deprived of the government allocated relief fund.

Around 350 people of the region had lost their houses during the devastating Tarai flood, eight months ago. However, after residing in makeshift shelters in Bagmati river embankment for months, the victims are yet to receive their share of grant amount.

According to Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal leader Pushpa Singh, the plights of the victims have increased as they have not received relief and grant amount of Rs 70 per day as declared by the government.

“We were forced to go to the CDO and Chair of Disaster Management Committee, Udhhav Bahadur Thapa, after the genuine flood victims were deprived of relief,” said Singh. “Even after the formation of local levels, the plights of victims were ignored by ward chair.”

Saying that the local level authorities have ignored the issue, local Tetari Devi Shah asked, “We are struggling our way through living in makeshift tents provided to us by various institutions. Although the government promised us relief we are yet to receive any, can you imagine our hardships?”

On the contrary, CDO Thapa clarified that after collecting details of the victims based on solicitations made by local level, the relief amount of Rs 25,000 per household is being distributed.

According to Thapa, the administration acting upon the solicitations has directly sent relief amount in victims' accounts.

Moreover, the CDO and Chair of Disaster Management Committee, Rautahat, suggested the grieving locals to settle down issues by visiting respective rural municipality.

“Till date, 951 households of the district whose residence was completely destroyed in the flood have received grant amount of Rs 25,000 each,” Thapa informed.