Somnath Bastola
Itahari, August 19:
More than 40,000 people have been rendered hom-eless and at least 20 have gone missing since the Saptakoshi River damaged two dam spurs yesterday and flooded human settlements in Sunsari. Eastern regional administrator Narendra Dahal said the flood has inundated Sunsari’s Haripur, Sripur, Pakshim Kusaha, Laukahi, Basantapur, Ghuski and other VDCs. The number of displaced persons may rise, Dahal added. According to him, hundreds of villagers were marooned. District Administration Office put the number of missing at more than 20. Though the rescue operation continued today, the helicopter could not take all to safety. The affected people were trapped on trees and roofs of their houses. He said there was no record of human casualties.

According to Nepal Army’s eastern regional headquarters divisional commander Ram Bahadur Gurung, three army helicopters dispatched from Kathmandu rescued 390 persons today. Some of them were admitted to hospitals, he added. The incessant rainfall has hit the rescue operation. The locals say the government has not mobilised enough boats. This evening four rubber boats were brought from Kathmandu to Itahari to carry out rescue operation.

Sunsari CDO Durga Bhandari said 5,000 people were taken to safer areas today. “Thousands are still awaiting to be rescued,” he added. There is already a breach of half a kilometre in the embankment. According to the Koshi barrage based control room, the Saptakoshi River water flow was 1,68,000 cusec yesterday. The damages could rise as the river water has entered human settlements. A 10-km section of the East-West Highway has been swept away.

The flood victims are miffed at the authorities for not doing enough. Bhim Bahadur Shrestha of Haripur VDC-9 said two days had passed but they were yet to hear words of comfort from the authorities concerned. Another displaced person, Kajiman Thapa, said he had to leave behind all property to save his life. The displaced persons were forced to drink contaminated water, he added. Saptari CDO Jibachha Mishra said preparations were underway to send relief assistance the flood victims.

Source: The Himalayan Times 20 August 2008

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