Situated between the Jogbuda and Mahakali rivers, Kutiyakabhar village in ward 10 of Dodhara Chandani Municipality in Kanchanpur is bracing for another flooding season, as rising water levels threaten to submerge homes and displace families.

With both rivers approaching near the settlement, any rise in water levels—particularly when Mahakali’s current obstructs Jogbuda’s flow—causes the area to flood.

The village, home to around 40 households, is among the first to go underwater when monsoon rains intensify. Most houses are built from mud and wood, and residents say they have long been vulnerable.

“This year, we haven’t seen major flooding yet,” said Khadke Budha, a local resident. “But we live in fear. When the flood comes, there’s barely any time to escape.”

Budha has prepared a wooden boat to rescue family and neighbours when water enters the village.

Authorities and residents alike say permanent embankments along the two rivers are needed to prevent disaster. However, with no progress on that front, many have begun relocating livestock and storing grain across the Jogbuda River in higher areas like Baidiphanta.

Some families have even built temporary shelters on neighbours’ land to keep their belongings safe.

Last year, two houses were constructed in the nearby village for temporary refuge, but locals say these are not enough. “People might manage in houses, but where do we take our cattle and food?” said Tek Bahadur Sunar, head of the local disaster management committee.

According to Sunar, three families have shifted children, livestock, and food to elevated ground across the river. Others have raised platforms within their own yards to keep animals and grain above flood level.

A footbridge crosses the Jogbuda River, but during peak flooding, even reaching the bridge becomes difficult. In such cases, security personnel carry out rescue operations.

While several villages in Dodhara Chandani experience flooding during monsoon, Kutiyakabhar is particularly vulnerable due to its location. Last year, floods in mid-July and again in September destroyed around a dozen homes, most belonging to Dalit and low-income families.

Residents say a long-term solution must include concrete embankments along both rivers or the relocation of the entire village to safer ground. Some families have already moved out permanently, and a few have crossed the border into India in search of safety.

Kutiyakabhar residents fear floods not only during the monsoon season but also during the dry season. The Indian side releases water from the Sharada Barrage into the Jogbuda river, which puts residents at risk. The locals have repeatedly requested the authorities to move their settlement somewhere safe.