More than 50,000 people were displaced on Monday when the Saptakosi river burst its embankment. Laukahi on the east-west highway in Sunsari district was blocked and there are unconfirmed reports that about 100 villagers taking refuge on a roof-top in Sripur VDC were washed away.

On Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal formed an all-party team to visit the site and meet the flood victims. After a tour of the area he met the heads of the Eastern Region APF to discuss the situation and arrange relief efforts. Dahal said that the situation was much worse than they had anticipated. "If the embankment had been repaired even 15 days earlier, this wouldn't have happened. But not we need to mobilise national resourses for the rescue and relief of those effected," Dahal assured. It has already been decided to use 20 million from the Prime Minister's Fund. Nepal's Indian Embassy has released a press release, stating that the embankment could not be repaired because the Indian technical team could not have an understanding with the Nepali officials.

Durga Bhandari, CDO of Sunsari, said those displaced from Kusaha, Sripur and Haripur had been housed in schools and government shelters at Inarwa, Laukahi, Madhuban and Prakaspur. The total population of the three VDCs affected by the flood is over 100,000. The army barracks, Kosi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and many houses have been flooded, with the Madyabarti area of Kosi Tappu severely affected. The local administration has published a public notice ordering the evacuation of people in the area. The Ministry of Home Affairs has mobilised the army and the APF, together with boats, elephants and helicopters.

Many people have also taken refuge in Saptari district and in towns across the border. They are demanding food and are demonstrating on the highway. The home affairs ministry has reported that efforts are under way to deliver rice, noodles, onions and medicines to the displaced, and doctors are also being sent.

The embankment that burst, about 12km from the Kosi barrage, is supposed to be maintained regularly by India. The Ministry of Water Resources says there was only 146,000 cubic metres of water behind the embankment when it broke, compared to a normal amount of 400,000 cubic metres. The ministry blamed the collapse of the embankment on poor maintenance.

According to CDO Bhandari, the government has already sent requests to India for assistance. Under the bilateral agreement between the two countries, India is liable to pay Nepal compensation for any damage caused by the water infrastructure on the Kosi river. If the embankment is not rebuilt quickly, there is likely to be more destruction.

Dambar Krishna Shrestha