Bhajani, Joshipur in Kailali inundated

Kathmandu - Bhajani and Joshipur in Kalilali, a Terai district in Sudurpaschim state, have been waterlogged after the flooded local rivers entered the settlements. According to eye witnesses, many houses at Bhajani municipality-2, 3, 6 and 8 have been inundated. Local Ganga Chaudhary said, water from the local Kandra and Kadha rivers gushed into the settlement, leaving the residents in panic. Six families of Bhajani have already moved out of the village to take shelter at relatives' houses after being displaced by the disaster.

The Bhajani-Joshipur-Bauniya road section has come under water due to the flood. Water has accumulated up to 1.5 meters along the roadside. Due to this, people's movement has been impeded. Rice cultivation done in hundreds of bighas of land in Mohanpur at Bhajani-2 has been affected by the disaster. Paddy field of 65 farmers has been covered by sand. At Rajipur of Joshipur, 25 houses have been inundated.

As said by local Sher Bahadur Saud, they could not get time to save foodstuff and household belongings from getting wet from the flood. It is said Bhajani and Joshipur face constant risk of flood. The condition of freed Kamaiyas (former bonded workers) is more pathetic in the aftermath of the incident.

According to Bhajani ward no 1 chair Bidhiram Chaudhary, the problem is longstanding as it is frequent every year. Bhajani and Joshipur are facing the problem of inundation and soil erosion for years during the monsoon. Due to this, cultivation of Chaite dhan (pre-monsoon paddy) is the preference of majority of farmers here. They are looking for safer areas for relocation as rain is likely to continue, the people's representative shared.