BANKE: “In the advent of the rainy season, we were haunted by the fear of our village to be submerged.

But this time, after the construction of emergency embankment along the river, we feel a sigh of relief,” said Jhindev Barma, a local resident of Narainapur.

Jhindev, aged over 60, has witnessed floods from the Rapti River wash away many human settlements. Remembering the past, he said, “The floods have panicked us several times.

We have been rendered homeless during festivals, he added. “Even in the old age, I feel respite to see the emergency embankment built along the river.” Ram Pyari Yadav from the same village also said they are assured that floods will not bring any tragic damage this year.

“Every year we were worrying about the river when it was swollen. But this year, after the emergency embankment was constructed, there is no such tension,” she recounted.

According to Ram Pyari, floods predominantly affected women, children and senior citizen. An emergency embankment has been built this year to protect the villages nearby the Rapti River from floods.

Several villages in Raptisonari and Narainapur municipalities of Banke, which were at high risk of flood, have been declared safe with the construction of the embankment.