Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Flood threat haunts locals

The impending danger of flooding by the Rohini River has been terrorizing the residents of inundation-prone Kerwani and Makrahar VDCs in the district lately. Several dozen residents of the area, who are highly susceptible to the danger, have already started searching for "safer places".
Around 45 impoverished families in Bhupusainik tole in Makrahar VDC-5 are a most terrified lot. Two years ago, flood swept away most of the houses and farmland in the area. Of the 45 families currently residing here, most are landless.
"I have already lost everything in the flood two years ago. Then, I was lucky enough to survive, but I may not be so lucky this time, so I am planning to move out," said Bal Bahadur Rana. However, the confused Rana, like others here, has no answer as to where he would go or what he would do after moving.
The village, located around 50 meters from the riverbank, is surrounded by water on all sides when the water level in the river rises, according to locals.
Likewise, the residents of neighboring Tatera village are under a similar threat. Eight to ten families in the village are displaced every year because of flooding.
3 homeless in Jaleshwor
Meanwhile, in Mahottari, flash flooding by the Ratu River Monday, triggered by heavy rainfall in the Chure area lately, inundated Dhobauli village of Jaleshwor Municipality-13. The families of Hakim Safi, Kasim Safi and Chandar Mahoto were rendered homeless after flooding destroyed their houses. While the victims are pleading for relief supplies, the police, surprisingly, have stated that they are unaware of this.
Authorities yet to reach
Though the entire Chaupheri and Kuduwa villages in Holiya VDC, Banke district remain submerged by the swollen Rapti River since Saturday afternoon, the authorities have not reached the area as of Monday evening. According to locals, the two villages remained totally cutoff for two days and locals could only reach there on Monday morning. "But neither the police nor the Red Cross people have reached here so far," said boatman Indra Sen Loniya. Several dozen houses in Chaupheri village in ward number 2, 3 and 4 and Kuduwa village in ward number 1 of Holiya VDC have been affected

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