THT Online Itahari, August 20
The operation launched to search and rescue people missing in the flooded Saptakoshi river continued on Wednesday as well. Nepal Army's choppers had rescued 479 flood victims by this evening, while five rubber boats rescued at least 100 persons. In course of three days, Nepali Army, Civil Police and Armed Police Force personnel have rescued 5,500 flood victims.

The flooded river has inundated six VDCs of Sunsari district. Though locals said the river swept away 25 people in Haripur and Sripur VDCs on Wednesday, Sunsari CDO Durga Bhandari said this was yet to be verified. According to a high-level security source, hundreds of marooned persons could not be rescued in the absence of a fool-proof rescue operation.

Administrator of the eastern region Narendra Dahal said over 45,000 people had been displaced as the flooded river gushed into villages after breaching a part of an embankment. Temporary shelters have been arranged for 25,000 people, he said.
Meanwhile, Sunsari CDO Bhandary said contact was established on Wednesday with security personnel, who had been sent to affected areas in five boats. "The number of missing might rise as victims have been saying that many of their relatives have been missing," assistant CDO of Sunsari Chirinjibi Adhikary said.

Source: The Himalayan Times, 21st August 2008