Locals of Susta tried to break a part of Gandak Canal on Thursday saying that floodwaters gushed into their settlements and farmlands. The locals were trying to channelize the floodwaters to the Gandak canal by digging another small canal.

The incessant rains inundated ward 1 and 2 of Susta Rural Municipality in Nawalparasi district. Locals complained that floodwaters could not find its way out due to the Gandak barrage and therefore resorted to breaking it on their own initiative. The attempt, however, was ceased with the intervention of security personnel.

The inundation in ward 1 and 2 has destroyed crops planted in over 1,000 bigahas of land, according to local Gyanu Neupane.

Susta locals had been demanding construction of siphon to extract floodwaters from the village. But, as authority did not pay heed to their concern, some 150 locals started breaking the dam using farming tools, locals said.

Chief District Officer Uday Bahadur Rana informed that security personnel were deployed to stop the locals from breaking the canal that lies in Nepali territory.

The Gandak Canal is a joint irrigation and power project between Nepal and India.