KATHMANDU, August 3: The swollen Saptakoshi River has breached the embankments and inundated human settlements in zero point located in Belka Municipality-8 of Udayapur district.
Hundreds of houses are at risk as the river has entered the settlement. Efforts by the government to stop the breach were ineffective and the flood broke through the temporary dam and entered the settlement.
Although attempts were made to stop the flood on Tuesday afternoon, the swollen River broke the temporary dam on Wednesday morning. Along with this, hundreds of settlements in Belka Municipality Ward Number 2 and 3 are at high risk of displacement.
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According to locals, some houses are already flooded. The municipality has started evacuating the residents of the affected areas to safer places.
Mayor of Belka Municipality Ashok Karki said that the efforts are underway to evacuate the affected local residents to safer areas. He said that 600 to 700 families are likely to be displaced immediately due to the flood in Koshi River.
Locals of Sisaulighat, Dhauri Tappu, Chilime, ABC, Sri Lanka Tapu and Ramnagar have been affected by the flood that has passed through Dumribote.
Human settlement was set up in the area where the Koshi now entered in 2045 BS after the River changed its course. After 34 years, Koshi is back to his old path. Hundreds of families are likely to be displaced in Udayapur, Saptari and Morang as a result of the change in the course of the River
As the Bhangalo has not been flooded, damage has not been done yet. Mayor Karki said that a big calamity has started in the municipality. He has requested everyone to take precautions.
