Khotang, August 14

Provincial Assembly members representing Khotang met Province 1 Internal Affairs and Law Minister Hikmat Karki today seeking relief for rain and drought victims in the district.

Three PA members Ushakala Rai, Rajan Rai and Ram Kumar Rai met Karki and sought immediate relief for victims of drought and rain in Halesi-Tuwachung Municipality.

“People suffered a lot due to drought at first and then the heavy downpour that followed added to their woes, by disrupting roads and damaging drinking water projects, but the government has failed to provide any relief,” said the PA members.

“Besides the victims of rainfall and the drought, the government must do something immediately to provide pledged cash and other things in relief to the families who lost their near and dear ones in landslides,” said Ushakala Rai. “Utility poles have crashed down, roads and irrigation projects have been damaged due to the rain,” she added.

Transportation service has been disrupted so far in majority of wards of Halesi Tuwachung Municipality after landslides damaged and disrupted roads at different places.

“As the road damaged by the landslides haven’t been repaired, food crisis has hit locals in places such as Bahunidanda and Dikuwa,” said Halesi Tuwachung Municipality Mayor Iwan Rai, adding that locals were grappling with drinking water shortage after landslides damaged water sources.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the government in Province 1 reached Halesi Tuwachung Municipality to inspect drought and rainfall affected areas today. The team will be in Bahunidanda and Dikuwa for two days.