Saptakoshi dam burst leaves scores of people trapped

A large number of people of Barahakshetra municipality in Sunsari got trapped when the Saptakoshi River dam burst today at Belaka municipality-8 in Udaypur district. They count at 2,500.

According to Sunsari's Chief District Officer Indra Dev Yadav, 500 houses at Barahakshetra 6 and 9 are submerged in water as the river gushed into the settlement with the barrage outburst due to incessant rains. They are trapped in the Sri-Lanka Tapu (island). Though the district administration tried to shift the affected to safer locations, they denied leaving their locality. It is reported that they are unhurt from the disaster.

Meanwhile, Province 1 minister for internal affairs Kedar Karki made a field visit to the areas affected by the river. A meeting of the Province Disaster Management Committee will be taking place today itself to determine the measures for responding the post-disaster situation.

The meeting is said to be focused in rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.