The government on Thursday declared five worst-hit VDCs of Saptari and Sunsari as 'emergency areas' to facilitate and expedite rehabilitation and reconstruction work.

The cabinet passed a proposal of Rs 2.5 billion and released Rs 500 million for relief and housing of the displaced. The number of displaced is now nearing 100,000, many are taking shelter in schools and the rest are forced to live along highway embankments.

Burglary and theft are on the rise and male members of families are guarding their inundated houses, risking their lives. Relief boats are charging marooned villagers for rescue. Even relief materials are being stolen.

The emergency means that the fundamental rights of the people in flood-hit areas will be suspended, the mobility of people restricted and security stepped up. "These works will be carried out under the ministries of Home Affairs, Health and Education, Physical Planning and Works," Information Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara told the press after the cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Sitalbabu Regmi, joint secretary at the Ministry of Water Resource, says the real challenge is to change the course of river before it destroys more of the embankment. "The works at spur no 11 and 12 are underway and the Indian team is working to plug the breach," he told the nepalitimes.com.

Repair teams have been placing sand filled sacks and stones packed within wire nets along the embankment to prevent the breach from getting bigger. "We still can not rule out the possibility of bigger floods," says Regmi, The biggest flood ever on the Kosi was in October 1968 when the flow was measured at 930,000 cusec, currently the river is flowing at 120,000 cusecs and most of it has bypassed the Kosi barrage.

When the Kosi breached the east embankment on August 18, the water was measured 1,80,000 cusec, indicating that the 50-year-old border barrage has outlived its lifespan. "The river training structures were never maintained to meet the standard," Regmi said.

It is the Bihar government which is responsible for the maintenance of the embankment and spur, but India has said inadequate local security prevented their teams from carrying out repairs.

Dewan Rai