There are 40 families living in this settlement, which is bordered by India. This year, the locals are even more worried as the flow of the Mahakali river is diverted directly towards the settlement.
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Jogbuda River on one side, Mahakali on the other. Kutiakvar settlement of Dodhara Chandni Municipality-10 is located at the confluence of both rivers. When the flow of water in both rivers increases, this settlement is the first to be inundated. When the flood of Mahakali blocked the flow of Jogbuda, Kutiakavar has been inundated every year.
"There has not been such a flood so far this year, but one day it will submerge the settlement and everyone will be affected," said a local Khadke Budha. As there is no place to escape after the flood, he has built a wooden boat, with the help of which he rescues the family and the villagers.
There are 40 families living in this settlement bordering India. This year, the locals are even more worried as the flow of the Mahakali river is diverted directly towards the settlement. Forecasts for more rain have added to the panic. Despite the demand for construction of embankment to prevent erosion, it has not been completed.
Some have started moving cattle and grain to safe places to protect them from floods. Budha also moved paddy, wheat and cattle across the Jogbuda river to Baidiphanta. Small grandchildren are also preparing to move. In Baidifanta, some have built a tower on their own land, some on their neighbor's and kept their belongings.
"Many have moved their crops and cattle to safe places," Disaster Management Committee Coordinator Tek Bahadur Sunar said. "People will stay in safehouses, but how to protect cattle and crops?"
Last year, two safehouses were built in Kutiakavar. Locals live there after floods. According to Sunar, three families have already shifted food, cattle and small children to higher ground across Jogbuda. Some have made a high place in their own place and kept grain and chaupaya.
A suspension bridge has been constructed on the Jogbuda River, but even reaching the bridge is difficult during floods. At that time they are rescued with the help of security personnel.
Half a dozen settlements of Dodhara Chandni are inundated every year due to Jogbuda river. But Kutiakvar gets submerged when the Mahakali floods. Here most of the kachi houses are inhabited by Dalit and poor families. Last year, the flood that occurred in the last week of June and August destroyed a dozen houses.
Locals demand that a concrete embankment should be built in Jogbuda and Mahakali for a permanent solution. They say that the settlement itself should be shifted to a safer place as the cost will be high. Some families have migrated, some have even entered India.
