Rautahat, July 17

A high-level government team consisting of senior leaders and ministers, who came to take stock of flood-hit areas and victims, returned without meeting the victims or visiting the affected areas in Rautahat today.

The team landed at the helipad of Nepali Army’s Indra Box Gan in Rautahat headquarters Gaur at 10:00am and returned without meeting flood victims or inspecting the flood-ravaged areas. This has enraged locals and flood victims.

Though the team arrived in the district with the intention of visiting flood-hit areas, they returned in the chopper after meeting security officials. Flood victim Panilal Ram of Gaur Municipality vented ire at the visiting ministers and leaders and complained that they had squandered state coffers. “They could have taken information about flood victims if they wanted to return without meeting the victims,” Ram said.

Social worker Mohan Yadav of Gaur vented anger at NCP senior leader Nepal, Home Minister Thapa and others for returning from the army office without visiting flood-hit areas. “Are Nepal’s ministers interested only in traveling by a chopper?” he questioned. He flayed the ministers and leaders for showing apathy towards people’s plight.

Yadav said that all three tiers of the government had betrayed the flood victims of Gaur and they had managed and provided relief materials on their own to the victims in Gaur.

Talking to mediapersons at Army Gan, Home Minister Thapa said the government was preparing to save people from disaster. “The government is making all possible efforts and security forces are on standby to save people’s lives,”  Thapa stated. He clarified that Disaster Management Committee had started work at all the three levels to reduce the impact of the disaster.

Minister of Energy and Water Resources Barshaman Pun said the government was providing information in advance about impending disaster. Pun held that the government was making diplomatic efforts with India to minimise disaster caused due embankments built by India on its side of the border.

Floods in Lalbakaiya and Bagmati rivers had wreaked havoc in Rautahat last Friday. Over 70 families have been left in a lurch.