INARUWA, AUGUST 4

A meeting of the province-level disaster management committee decided to carry out work keeping rescue and relief of people affected by encroachment of the Saptakoshi River as top priority.

"The meeting held under the chairmanship of Coordinator of Province 1 Disaster Management Committee and Minister of Internal Affairs and Law Kedar Karki decided to this effect," said Chief District Officer of Sunsari Indra Dev Yadav.

"Decisions were taken to control encroachment of Koshi River, initiate work immediately through Bakram River Management Office, and province-level disaster management committee, district-based disaster management committee and municipal-level disaster management committee in a bid to carry out rescue and relief activities by working in tandem," shared Yadav.

The meeting also decided to mobilise ward-level management and community development committees to shift locals from settlements that are at risk of flood to safer places.

He further urged to make decisions to carry out activities by coordinating and cooperating with stakeholders, and making arrangement of school, tarpaulin, food stuffs, toilets and security for temporary residence.

Among officials attending the meeting were Province 1 Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development Himal Karki, Udayapur district's Chief District Officer Birendra Kumar Yadav, Sunsari's CDO Indra Dev Yadav, Morang's CDO Kashiram Dahal, Belaka Municipality Mayor Ashok Karki, Sunsari Baraha Kshetra Municipality Mayor Ramesh Karki, mayors of Saptakoshi Municipality and Kanchanpur Municipality of Saptari and chiefs of all the three security bodies.

Relocation of families affected by and at risk of flood is ongoing. Teams of Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and Nepali Army have been actively engaging in rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, the province government has dispatched relief materials for flood-affected people. The province government's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law had sent the relief goods.

As many as 1,500 families have been displaced at Belaka Municipality of Udayapur district as the flooded Saptakoshi River breached its bank and entered human settlements at five wards of the municipality yesterday.

The government has rescued displaced people and shifted them to safer areas. The ministry has already dispatched relief materials, including foodstuff to affected people.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 5, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.