Rajbiraj, July 14

Floods triggered by incessant rainfall for the past four days have inundated thousands of houses and displaced hundreds of families in Saptari.

According to Saptari District Police Office, flood in the Saptakoshi, Triyuga, Khando, Balan, Bhaluwahi, Jita and Khadak rivers has submerged 3,502 houses and displaced more than 300 families.

The displaced families are living in the houses of relatives, schools and makeshift tents.

Police expect the number of displaced to go up. Police data show that most people were displaced at Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality, Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality, and Saptakoshi Municipality.

Similarly, locals from Rajbiraj, Bodebarsain, Khadak municipalities and Mahadev Rural and Tirhut rural Municipalities have also been displaced and are sheltering at safe places, said Inspector Rita Khadka of Saptari District Police Office.

The swollen Saptakoshi River has put more than 50 houses of Gobargadha area at high risk.

Various organisations and local levels have provided beaten rice, noodles, and biscuits as primary relief to flood victims. Locals, however, complained that no permanent solution was sought despite the fact that the district got affected by floods every year.

“We are hit by flooding every year during monsoon. We no longer want biscuits and noodles, but a permanent solution to the flood,” said flood victim Hari Narayan Mukhiya of Hanumannagar Kankalini.

Saptari CDO Surendra Poudel said no human casualty was reported. Personnel of Nepali army and Nepal police have been deployed to minimise damage and provide relief.