MUZAFFARPUR: About a dozen villages lying between the two main embankments of Bagmati river under Aurai block were flooded again on Wednesday as the river crossed its danger level with rising trend at Kataunhja in the upper region following heavy rain in the catchment area during the last five days.
A villager of Benipur — Ashok Kumar — claimed on Wednesday afternoon that the flood water was entering his house. This was the second time that the flood had entered his village in the last one week, he said. Villagers have started leaving their houses for safer and upper places. Their families have already shifted to Muzaffarpur town or elsewhere. Those who have stayed back for protection of their belongings have also started occupying high embankments to spend the night.
Official sources in Aurai block office informed that these people had not been rehabilitated elsewhere as there is no upper land available in the entire block area. Moreover, many of them have stayed back despite floodwater entering their homes. Massive deforestation in the lower reaches of Nepal has accentuated the problem. The river has been silted to such an extent that it has become shallow at many points. As a result, the water spills over its banks after every heavy rain throughout the rainy season causing flood every now and then.
The construction of the main embankment has been completed up to Katra block office. Therefore, except for areas falling under the two embankments, the entire Aurai block area, by and large, may remain free from flood this year. But, the flood crisis is likely to deteriorate this year in the eastern part of Katra block. The flood water may spread to the entire unprotected parts of the block.
Aurai block office is presently cut off from road not by flood but due to lack of road link to Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi. The road to Benibad has been crossed by the main embankment at Baraitha village without any alternative arrangement. Similarly, the road to Runnisaidpur has been cut by Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi rail line at Mananpur village. So, a journey to Aurai particularly during the rainy season, has become very difficult, if not impossible.