Floods, triggered by incessant rain over the past four days, have displaced thousands of families in the central Tarai.

All 265 houses in Susta of Nawalparasi district have been inundated after the swelling Narayani River burst its banks and gushed into the settlements.

Locals, who were displaced by the flood, have been shifted to the Dalit Primary School and other safer places. Sahamati Sanstha, an NGO, and the Nepal-India Border Upgradation Project have been arranging food and shelters for the affected people.

People are taking shelter at a building constructed by Sahamati Sanstha. Volunteers of Sahamati Sanstha, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF) personnel have helped evacuate locals from the flood-affected areas and find shelters for them.

Rescue teams have been facing difficulties reaching Susta due to the flood in Narayani River.

Similarly, 391 houses in Paklihawa, Gudi Suryapura, Narsahi and Kudiya, among other villages, have been submerged following incessant rainfall. They have been moved to a local school, said Raj Kumar Sharma, chairperson of Pratappur Rural Municipality.

Mukunda Acharya, chief at the District Police Office, Nawalparasi, said Nepal Police and APF personnel have been deployed to carry out the rescue operations.

In Thori, around 5,000 families have been displaced in Ranchtol, Thoribazar and Bhagwannagar after the floodwaters from streams entered the settlements.

In Bara, more than 1,000 families have been displaced after the floodwaters of various streams entered the settlements. Chief District Officer Bijaya Narayan Manandhar said they have been distributing relief materials collaborating with various social organisations and individuals. The water levels in Jamuni, Tiyar, Bangari, Aduwa, Dudhaura, Pasaha, Lalbakaiya and Thalahi streams have started to recede now.

In Sarlahi, At least 500 houses were destroyed and thousands more inundated by floodwaters in Sarlahi district. Chief District Officer Pardipraj Kandel said the damage was caused after the flooded Bagmati river destroyed a dam and flooded the settlements. “Initial reports suggest 500 families are said to have been displaced. We are collecting the details of the destruction,” said CDO Kandel.

(With inputs from our district correspondents)