Itahari, December 5:

The Saptakoshi flood victims, who are staging relay hunger strike for the past two days, continued their strike today as well.

Putting forth a 13-point demand, the flood victims are staging relay hunger strike on the premises of Sunsari DAO and in Koshi barrage area. They are demanding the government to provide compensation to the land flooded by the Saptakoshi river. Fifteen flood victims are taking part in the strike.

The agitators said that the government was doing nothing except distributing the relief provided by donor agencies. They added that the government had deceived

them by not providing Rs 50,000 each for victims, who don’t want to return to their houses, announced earlier.

Their demands include resettlement in safe areas; exemption of their bank loans; special relief packages for children, physically-challenged, pregnant, disabled and elders; rupees two lakhs as compensation for the families of those killed in the

floods and distribution of permanent ration cards, among others.