Relief materials yet to reach victims

Rautahat, August 14

Authorities have yet to reach out to the victims with relief materials even as floodwaters recede in Rautahat.

According to Superintendent of Police Yagya Binod Pokharel, 11 people have died and one has gone missing after incessant rain caused floods in the district. Though relief materials were dropped from helicopter at some places, it was just a trickle keeping in view the size of population affected by the monsoon fury.

A team of parliamentarians did visit the district in choppers but they have yet to reach out to the victims who are facing shortage of food. Government offices, among other establishments, are yet to open in Gaur.

Meanwhile, given the delay in relief distribution, the victims are struggling to survive.

Flood victims say the rainwater swept away everything from clothes to food grains. They claimed they have been living without food for the past two days.

Even electricity supply has been disrupted due to the floods.

In places like Debahi Gonahi, Katahariya, Durga Bhagawati and Isanath, almost all houses were damaged in floods, leaving the villagers no option but to stay in the open. In some places locals have to ride boat to reach Gaur.

Around 80 per cent of the district was waterlogged after embankment on the Lalbakaiya River gave way to the flooded river at three points at Bagmati and near Fulbariya.