SUNSARI: Although they have long been undergoing the perennial flood woes and constant fatal attacks of wild animals and bandits, the 1,600 plus families in Srilanka Tappu of Sunsari district feel they are completely ignored by the state.

The poverty stricken people just stare at their barren lands and pass their days as the river floods damage their crops almost every summer for which they never get any succour from the government.

Ward No 4 and 5 of Prakashpur VDC and Ward 5 of Mahendranagar VDC of Sunsari district make the Tappu — an island — which lies in between the river waters as the Saptakoshi River bifurcates.

"The government is completely ignoring us," says Dhana Kumari Rai, principal of local Balsewa Primary School, chastising the authorities for not providing even basic needs like health and education to the local residents.

Though population here is as high as 15, 000, the village doesn't have even a lower secondary school. So much so, the three primary schools here have been set up and run with the locals' efforts.

Social worker Padam Khadka, who has been trying his level best to help locals, said the only sub-health post in the village was without medicines since long. "The political party leaders come here only ahead of the election. They never bother to come back thereafter."

Shyam Subba, a local, revealed that many people had perished due to snakebites as they could not be offered timely treatment. "More than 25 people have lost their lives to snakebite. When women become pregnant, there is constant fear as they cannot be easily taken outside of the village in case of emergency."

Local residents here have to reach as far as Prakashpur Bazaar crossing the raging river to buy their essentials. They bemoan as they have got no assistance from the authorities to ease their traversing the river.

Bir Bahadur Majhi said that their lives had been in problems due to government's apathy. "The government is treating us as if we are the citizens of another country. Sometimes we ponder whether we are the second-class citizens here."

According to elderly, people began living here ever since the construction of embankments and Koshi Barrage.