After the embankment was built on the banks of the Mahakali and Jogbuda rivers, the residents of Kutiakbar, 10, Dodhara Chandani Municipality had hoped for some relief from the past. But concerns have started again after the embankment collapsed due to the rains of the second week of Ashar without any flood in the Mahakali. The water accumulated in the settlement collapsed the embankment.

‘This year, the embankment has been built, we thought that erosion would stop, and that a small flood would not cause any trouble, but the embankment collapsed without any flood,’ said local Khadke Budha, ‘The flood in the Mahakali is yet to come, the water accumulated in the settlement overflowed and collapsed the embankment.’

He said that after the embankment collapsed, the locals have demanded repairs from the municipality and district administration. After Chief District Officer Madan Koirala visited the site last week, he said that the repair work has now begun.

The Mahakali flood had been eroding the area for three to four years. The land of Nainsingh Sunar and N Bahadur Sunar was being eroded. Last year, a 700-meter embankment was built from the suspension bridge to Zero Point with an investment of more than 50 million rupees. After the embankment was built, the locals felt some relief.

Now, for temporary prevention, plastic bags are being filled in the area and buried in the collapsed area. Temporary prevention work is being done in collaboration with the village elders and youth, along with the municipality, Nepali Army, police, local and non-governmental organizations.

Now, everyone on the banks of the Mahakali is busy filling soil in plastic bags and filling the holes. About half of the filling work has been completed. But since the embankment at Zero Point has collapsed, the risk of being swept away is high if a major flood occurs in the Mahakali. After that, erosion seems to be increasing again. ‘We are currently carrying out temporary work to prevent erosion along with securing the concrete embankment,’ said Ward 10 Ward Chairman Chandra Bahadur Singh, who was filling soil in plastic bags. ‘There is no immediate situation to do anything.’ The work has been forced to be carried out in a haphazard manner as the water level in Jogbuda and Mahakali is high and it is not possible to bring stones and other construction materials.’ According to

Chairman Singh, it was necessary to provide drainage for the settlement water while constructing the embankment on the edge of the settlement. But since drainage was not provided at that time, the embankment has now collapsed during normal rains. ‘We asked them to install drainpipes in one or two places for drainage, but they did not,’ he said. ‘This is a problem now.’ He said that if there is still no drainage, there is a risk that the embankment will collapse again in another place.

The settlement of Kutia Kawar is located at the confluence of the Jogbuda River on one side and the Mahakali River on the other. This is why the area is at high risk of erosion and flooding. The Mahakali floods block the flow of the Jogbuda River and the entire settlement is flooded every year.

Surrounded by India on one side and the Jogbuda and Mahakali on three sides, the residents here are unable to escape even during floods. It is very difficult to even reach the suspension bridge built on the Jogbuda River. Locals say that sometimes they have to flee to India.

The area, which is home to 42 families, has no place to escape in the event of a flood. Last year, some relief came after safe houses were built with the help of the Nepali Army, the municipality, and NGOs. Two high-rise houses have been built for all the locals to live in during the flood.

After the embankment was damaged, Dodhara Chandani Municipality is currently filling it using gabion bags, sandbags and soil. According to Mayor Kishore Kumar Limbu, emergency repairs have been carried out immediately to prevent further erosion. He informed that the damaged part has been temporarily made safe with the help of locals. 'Work is being done to prevent further damage now. Initiatives are also being taken for a long-term solution in coordination with the concerned bodies,' he said.

However, according to the locals, the repairs done now, although they provide relief for a few days, cannot end the problem that recurs every year. The community itself has also continued its preparations to deal with the flood. The Kutiakbar Community Disaster Management Committee has been conducting preparedness activities before the monsoon every year. As soon as the risk increases, the practice of disseminating information and moving women, children, senior citizens and people with disabilities to safe places has also become regular.

Basanti Sunar, Secretary of the Kutiakbar Community Disaster Management Committee, says, 'We have prioritized disaster preparedness at the community level. As soon as the risk increases, the practice of informing everyone, moving them to safe shelters and making necessary coordination is regular. Now that there is a safe shelter, it has become much easier than before. But until there is a sustainable plan for river control, the same concern repeats itself every year. Along with the construction of embankments, attention should also be paid to the drainage system.'

The two safe shelters built in Kutiakbar have now become the biggest trust for the community. These structures have been playing an important role in not only keeping people safe during floods, but also in preserving food, clothes, important documents and essential materials. Locals who were forced to spend the night under the open sky in the past say that they can now at least reach a safe shelter.

But according to them, having a safe shelter is not a solution to the problem. The settlement itself remains at risk every year when floods occur. They say that the suffering of Kutiakbar will not end unless the river flow is controlled, quality construction of embankments and long-term management of water drainage are not implemented.