Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Bimalendra Nidhi has instructed the concerned authority to put in place a mechanism to drain water from the dammed Arun river in Sankhuwasabha so as to mitigate the risk of inundation of human settlements in Barun Bazar.

The flood debris from Barun River in the district had been silting in the Arun river in Syakshila Gola in Bhote Khola rural municipality since Thursday evening, thereby forming a two-km long artificial lake due to the blockage.

Meanwhile, the local administration has directed the people living in settlements downstream the dammed Arun River to remain safe. The clogging of the river is likely to affect the people in the settlements along the river in Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Dhankuta, Udayapur, and Saptari districts.

Three houses in Barun Bazar sustained damages due to the damming of the river while four houses are said to be at high risk.

A team of technical officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Nepal Army as well as Armed Police Force are preparing to fly to Barun Bazar in a chopper for the management of the disaster as well as for the mitigation of the risk, according to the MoHA.  The Barun river merges with the Arun river.

According to Chief District Officer in Sankhuwasabha, Shivaraj Joshi, a team of three dozens police personnel have been deployed for rescue operation at the blocked site.

It has been learnt that State Minister for Health, Taraman Gurung is heading for the river site for inspection. RSS