BY SHANKAR KHAREL

LAUKAHI (SUNSARI), Aug 20 - As many as 40,000 locals of various areas waterlogged following a breach in the western Kushaha embankment along the Saptakoshi River Monday afternoon, have been displaced while six persons have gone missing as of Tuesday. The changed flow of river water, which entered settlements at Kushaha, Haripur, Sripur and Laukahi VDCs following the embankment breach, has also damaged a five-kilometer stretch of the East-West Highway and a bridge, thereby obstructing traffic. Hundreds of locals in the inundated areas have been coming to district headquarters Inaruwa and other safe areas. While the local administration claims to be carrying out rescue work, over 5,000 locals in Sripur and Haripur reportedly remain stranded due to lack of rescue initiatives.

Chief District Officer Durga Bhandari said the administration is facing problems carrying out rescue operations, providing shelter, distributing relief materials to the displaced and repairing the damaged embankment, all at once, as the water level in the river hasn't yet subsided.

"Although a team of Indian technicians already arrived here for repairing the damaged embankment, they are yet to begin their works due to the floods," he said. He said at the moment the administration is focusing on rescue and relief. The floods have inundated hundreds of bighas of land, damaging paddy, jute and vegetable crops worth millions of rupees. Over 5,000 houses in the affected VDCs have been submerged while adjacent settlements are being flooded also, triggering an exodus of locals.

Two helicopters of the Nepali Army (NA) and many boats have been mobilized for the rescue. "We have mobilized over 5,000 persons, including NA and police personnel for proper management of the displaced and to provide them essential materials," said CDO Bhandari.

NA personnel, stationed for security at Koshi Wildlife Reserve, have also been rescued.

The displaced have been sheltered at schools and government establishments at Madhuban, Laukahi, Inaruwa, Dumraha and other areas, said Local Development Officer Guru Subedi. Many others are staying in tents right along the highway.

Regional Administrator Narendra Dahal informed that they decided to intensify humanitarian work and health services for the displaced besides resuming transport on the highway.

Govt releases Rs 22m for relief

The government has decided to release Rs 22 million for immediate humanitarian aid to flood affected people in western Sunsari. The Central Natural Disaster Rescue Committee (CNDRC) meeting headed by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday decided to release Rs 16 million through Finance Ministry and Rs 6 million through Prime Minister's Natural Disaster Relief Fund. According to a Home Ministry statement, the meeting decided to release further amounts after detailed needs assessment. The meeting also decided to take immediate steps for rescue and relief for flood-affected people and provide necessary relief material to Sunsari District Administration Office. The Committee has asked neighboring Morang, Saptari and Siraha District Administration Offices to provide relief to flood the affected.

Govt to take up issue with India

The PM-headed CNDRC meeting also asked the Foreign Affairs and Water Resources Ministries to take immediate initiatives for coordinated action with the Indian side to stop any further calamity. The Committee asked the ministries to make necessary arrangement for maintenance of the embankment through coordination with the Indian side to avert further damage. The Home Ministry statement said the decision was taken keeping in view that any failure to repair the embankment would lead to more damage.

- The Kathmandu Post, 20 August 2008. www.ekantipur.com