Security personnel foiled the attempt of Susta locals to dig a channel on the western canal of Gandak Barrage to drain the floodwaters  on Wednesday. 

Enraged at the inundation caused by the canal, the local people attempted to dig a channel only to be stopped by security personnel. Heavy rainfall has flooded the wards 1 and 2 of Susta Rural Municipality. To drain the floodwaters, around 150 villagers, armed with pickaxes and shovels, had gathered at the canal site on Thursday.

Locals said that their settlements were being flooded every year because of the canal used by the Indian side for irrigation. They said both Nepali and Indian sides have ignored their requests to solve the problem and that they were compelled to take 

matters into their own hands.

The people in Susta have long demanded for a channel to stop floods in their area.

Chief District Officer Uday Bahadur Rana said police were deployed to stop the locals from breaching the canal. Rana said to address the concern of Susta, he has informed the Home Ministry and the Indian authorities about their problem.