East Champaran roads remain waterlogged, 2 rivers receding slowly

Satish Aditya
Motihari : With the water level of turbulent Bagmati and Lalbakeya rivers receding since July 16, 2019, the flood situation under Dhaka, Patahi, Phenehara, Madhuban, and Pakaridayal blocks is slowly improving. However, the flood has damaged the rural roads and they remain waterlogged with their links with block headquarters snapped for the last 7 days.

Two  Zamindari bunds were breached on July 16, 2019, night, at Jhitkahiya and Banjariya near Motihari due to flood in hilly rivers Tilawe and Bangari hilly rivers and flood water entered  around two dozen villages under Banjariya block. Four feet deep water is flowing on Block Office and FCI Godown campus at Banjariya.

Water from Sarisawa Tilawe and two other hilly rivers, which originate from Nepal and enter river Burhi Gandak, have already inundated 15 panchayats under Raxaul and Ramgarhwa blocks. Burhi Gandak has inundated Sugali town area too where  station, market,and police station are under knee deep water since July 15, 2019.

Only 18 community Kitchen are running in 54 small and big villages in 11 Panchayats under Patahi block which is proving to be inadequate. Niraj Kumar, a social worker, said no relief work has started in this area and even emergency drugs are not available at Primary Health Centre (PHC), Patahi. There is no boat in this marooned  area. Sheo Parsan Prasad of Khutauna said that majority of villagers including women and children are suffering due to lack of safe drinking water and readymade food  for the last 6 days and no officer has visited this village till date.

This scribe visited  Guabari  on July 17, 2019, where 100 families have taken shelter for last five days and going without food and other essential items. Similarly, over 60 families have taken shelter on NH28A and other safer places near Sugauli and  were provided Chura on July 15.