DHANGADHI: It’s been a long wait for relief materials for the district’s flood victims.

With the government caught on the wrong foot, they have to contend with beaten rice (chiura) and noodles. As many as 1,500 households have been awaiting relief. Dhansinghpur and Narayanpur VDC residents have been hit the hardest. Flash floods have inundated more than 90 per cent of arable land.

In the face of the calamity, the joint rescue teams of the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force reached four days later.

Their action has been too little, too less. Yet, the locals expressed their gratitude to the rearguard rescue operation. Latest reports suggest, Suryapur, Bangaun, Banjariya, Munuwa, Shrelanka ole, Paelgaun and Batanpur of Dhansingpur, Simrani, Satti and Ramjanaki Tole residents are yet to be rescued till late this evening. Ditto for Shahipur, Lalbojhi, and Khailad VDC locals. Some of the victims have taken shelter on tree tops to escape nature’s wrath. “The government is responsible for the sorry state of affairs,” said Harish Chaudhary, a

resident of Butanpur. CDO Harikrishna Poudel drew

local Anupam Raya’s flak for inaction. “Leaders across party lines have been apathetic to our cause as well,” alleged locals in unison. The victims are demanding that they be airlifted to safer locations. The local administration passed the buck to the

Centre for the victims’ woes.

“Though we requested for a chopper, we’re yet to hear from the Centre,” said Harikrishna Poudel, CDO, Kailali. Home Minister Bhim Rawal, who hails from Achham, too, has come in for criticism for being callous to the victims’ plight.