KOHOLPUR, Aug 11: The Rapti river has continued eroding roads in Phattepur Village Development Committee (VDC) of Banke district forcing six villages to remain out of transportation service.
The river is rapidly changing its course over the last few months resulting in massive land erosion, according to locals. A total of four houses have been swept away by the river while more than 300 families have already been displaced due to the change in the course of the river.
Khallajhagadiya of Phattepur VDC-1, Gelawa of Phattepur VDC 3, Bhawaniyapur of Phattepur VDC 7 and Pharendagaun of Phattepur-2 have been severely affected by the river, according to Durga Prasad Pande, a local of Phattepur-1. Displaced families from the area have been taking shelter in the Bhagawati Community Forestry.
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Vehicular movement in many villages including Gangapur, Mataihiya, Laxmanpur, Narainapur, Kalaphant and Katkuiya has halted after a section of graveled road in Khallajhagadiya was swept away by the river.
Many fertile lands have been eroded by the river, said Dilaram Rana, secretary of the Phattepur VDC. The entire village gets inundated when it rains, he said, adding that the villagers are living in fear of floods and land erosion by the river.
Many households are at risk of floods and we are requesting the concerned authority to relocate the settlements which are under risk of floods, Rana said.
The recent floods have added hardship to the locals. Besides the disruption in transportation services, Phattepur Lower Secondary School has remained closed since last month after being damaged by the floods, according Ram Prasad Harijan, a resident of Phattepur VDC.
