Relief operations begin as weather improves Flood victims in some districts refuse to receive government relief materials in protest of the delay

KATHMANDU, JUN 20 -
After three days of continuous rains that brought about death and destruction in western Nepal, weather condition started to improve from Tuesday evening.

Local authorities started rescue and relief works in many disaster-hit areas from Wednesday. The victims in some of the districts complained of delay in the rescue and relief works. Authorities, meanwhile, attributed the delay to inclement weather.

A Nepal Army (NA) helicopter delivered food, tarpaulin sheets, blankets and medicines in Darchula on Wednesday. The district was ravaged by the flood in the Mahakali river, causing displacement of more than 2,500 people.

The victims, meanwhile, refused to receive the relief materials from the government in protest of the delay. They have demanded for a proper relief package and resettlement programme.

The victims claimed the disaster occurred after the Indian side opened the floodgates of Dhauliganga Dam located near the Indian bordering town of Dharchula.

“A meeting of high-level officials held in Dharchula on Wednesday concluded that the opening of the floodgates at the dam had made the flooding worse,” local Nepali Congress leader Lalit Singh Bohara said. “We demand the governments of both Nepal and India to investigate the matter.”

Eleven political parties in Darchula also demanded the government to come up with a long-term plan for the management of the settlements at risk of flood.  Chief District Officer Chiranjivi Adhikari said he would relay the demand to the centre. He, however, declined to comment on the role of the Dhauliganga Dam in the

disaster.

A joint team from the NA and the Nepal Police reached the disaster-hit areas in Kalikot to initiate the rescue works two days after the incident on Wednesday morning. Floods and landslides in Mehelmudi, Mumra and Sipkhana VDCs on Monday night claimed at least four lives. Eleven others missing in the incident are feared dead. Despite the rescue works, the authorities are yet to begin relief works in the region.

“We take strong exception to the government’s delay in the relief works,” said local NC leader Amar Bahadur Shahi.  In Kailali, a helicopter deployed to rescue the flood victims at Srilanka village could not locate the site due to extensive flooding in the area. Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhesh Raj Shrestha later confirmed that the villagers were safe.

An NA chopper rescued 107 people caught in a flood in Shahipur village of Tikapur Municipality. In Rajapur Tappu region of Bardiya, more than 1,000 people displaced by the flood in the Karnali river could not receive relief as the floodwaters hindered the access. Police said they were making effort to deliver the relief materials to the flood victims.

Three of family killed

PALPA: Three members of a family were killed when their house was crushed in a landlside at Pokharichhap village in Birkot-3 in Palpa on Tuesday night.

Police said Bhavisara Baraghare and her two daughters Nirmaya and Manisha died in the incident. Bhavisara’s husband, Bal Bahadur, sustained minor injuries.

Meanwhile, landslips caused by heavy rainfall have obstructed transport service throughout Myagdi district and parts of Pasang Lhamu Road in Rasuwa district.

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