Relief Distribution in Sarlahi and Rautahat Districts
Rautahat, Asar 15 – Relief was distributed on Tuesday to persons with disabilities affected by flooding in Lakshmipur Belbichuwa of Ward No. 8, Rajdevi Municipality, and in Brahmapuri village of Rautahat district by an organization. The relief distribution took place after complaints were raised that many marginalized and disadvantaged families had not received any aid due to lack of transparency in earlier distributions. Responding to these concerns, an organization named Chay-Ya Nepal carried out the relief distribution specifically targeting persons with disabilities and single women in the affected areas.
According to Mr. Kamal Thapa, Country Director of Chay-Ya Nepal, relief materials were distributed to around 60 households consisting of flood-affected persons with disabilities and single women. Each family received a package that included one tarpaulin sheet, 30 kg of rice, 5 kg of beaten rice (chiura), one mosquito net, among other essentials. He stated that the organization decided to focus on disabled families after reports emerged that only those with influence and access were receiving aid.
Local partner organization NBWA Nepal also supported the initiative. Its President, Mr. Rajesh Sah, mentioned that after hearing reports that flood-affected persons with disabilities, single women, the poor, and vulnerable families in border regions were not getting relief, they stepped in to provide support.
On the same day, the organization also distributed relief in various villages of Ward Nos. 5 and 6 of Paroha Municipality in Rautahat, reaching around 250 households. Additionally, another 250 households were targeted for upcoming aid, and around 30 flood-affected families in Chandranagar Rural Municipality of Sarlahi district also received relief supplies, according to Mr. Thapa.
Youth social worker Mr. Navin Singh from Rajdevi Municipality appreciated the commendable work of Chay-Ya Nepal.
Meanwhile, fear has gripped locals in many settlements due to the collapse of embankments along the Lalbakaiya and Bagmati rivers. The embankments, which were damaged by the flood, could not be repaired in time. As a result, many residents have been forced to stay at home in fear. Water had entered many villages in the district due to breaches in several locations.
Floodwaters had broken embankments on the Bagmati River in Rautahat. Specifically, embankments in Ward No. 3 of Gadhimai Municipality and the Brahmapuri area of Rajdevi Municipality were breached.
According to Chief District Officer (CDO) Mr. Kiran Thapa, 16 people lost their lives due to the flood, while the status of two individuals is still unknown. He also reported that the disaster affected about 20,000 citizens. Among them, 14,883 households were partially damaged and 4,985 homes were completely destroyed.
As the embankments on Rautahat’s two major rivers—Bagmati and Lalbakaiya—have still not been repaired, dozens of villages, including the district headquarters Gaur, remain at high risk of further flooding. Most southern villages in the district have been submerged. The breach of these major river embankments, known as the “two sorrowful rivers” of the region, has caused widespread damage to cultivable lands, as well as extensive loss of life and property.
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