Inaruwa (Sunsari), October 8
The Saptakoshi River, notorious for its devastating floods during the monsoon, is raising concerns again. The river, which feeds on water from eastern hilly districts and other major rivers, experiences a significant increase in water level, leaving behind large deposits of sand and pebbles during the dry season. These accumulations have raised the riverbed, increasing the risk of flooding in nearby settlements.
Residents of Sunsari and Saptari report that the rising river level, caused by the buildup of sand, mud, and pebbles from floods, poses a serious threat to their homes. Despite repeated warnings, the issue remains unaddressed due to negligence from authorities.
“The Saptakoshi River, flowing from Kanchenjunga in the east to Lamtang in the west, impacts regions across Nepal and India, yet its management is overlooked,” said Pradip Dhakal, vice-president of Nepali Congress (NC) Inaruwa.
Experts have warned that the river floods annually, inundating settlements. Locals, including Lal Bahadur Limbu from the Saptakoshi Inundation Committee, stressed the need for urgent intervention to manage the sand and debris accumulation, which has altered the river’s natural course and escalated the risk of disaster.
