Koshi flood inundates settlement in Saptari

Rajbiraj, September 16

Flood in Saptakoshi River triggered by rains has inundated human settlements at Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality in Saptari district. The floodwaters have gushed into wards 7, 11, 12 and 14 in the municipality.

A local of ward No 12 Urmila Shrestha said they were in a lurch as their shelter had been submerged. According to local Balaram Pandit, 180 houses have been inundated at Ward No 12 alone. Similarly, more than 300 houses in wards 7, 11 and 14 were affected by the flood.

Local Sukanidevi Mukhiya said government help had not reached them and they were living in miserable condition. “We have yet to recover from floods of two weeks ago, and again another flood has added to our woes,” Mukhiya lamented. She said she had borrowed money to buy plastic to cover her shelter. “My hope of living here has died,” she added.

Majority of the flood-hit people are squatters and they are living at high risk of flooding from the Koshi River. Flood victims say they do not want food in relief but relocation to safer places. “How long will the tiny amount of relief last?” Hareram Mukhiya asked. He said if they were relocated to a safe place, they could eke out a living on their own.

Municipality Mayor Sailesh Kumar Sah said his office was very concerned about flood victims’ plight and was working to relocate the settlement to the west of the Koshi embankment.