RAUTAHAT, July 14: Over a dozen villages in Rautahat have been inundated by flood bringing people's normal life to a standstill. The embankment built unilaterally by India along the border in Bairgania blocks the natural flow of water resulting in the inundation of villages toward Nepal.
On Saturday, the 25 feet-tall embankment that covers both Lal Bakaiya and Bagmati rivers collapsed due to the force of water. But India's Seema Surakshya Bal personnel immediately re-erected it. With this, Mudwalwa, Basatpur, Auraiya, Bhramapuri, Belbichawa and Gaur, among other villages have submerged in water.
"They built dam to safeguard their villages. But our villages got submerged in flood water," said Sadananda Jha, a local of Gaur.
The situation has left even the locals of the nearby villages in a state of terror. Huge amount of flood water has accumulated in Gaur posing threat to the nearby settlements too. It has been raining incessantly in this region since the last five days.
Although it leaves Nepali villages vulnerable, India's embankment keeps its villages Bairgania, Ashagi, Baluwa, Bakurahar and Hirapur, among others safe from floods. To the Nepali side, one-storey houses have been fully submerged in water in many settlements. According to the local authorities, the water level is 10 to 15 feet deep.
"They built dam to safeguard their villages. But our villages got submerged in flood water," said Sadananda Jha, a local of Gaur. "They say Nepal and India have roti-beti relation, but they act indifferently when we are in crisis," he added.
As hundreds of families in the district have been displaced, they have asked the government to handle the matter at the political level and solve the problem.
"Our villages should not be left vulnerable like this. Every year, we to suffer the same fate. The government must solve this matter," said Jha.
SSB personnel had used chemicals and machines to immediately fix the collapsed embankment on Saturday. They sprung into action as the flood was likely to affect villages in India.
KATHMANDU, Sept 24: The Supreme Court (SC) has sought a written response regarding the reasons why the election of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) could not be held on the scheduled date....
