Artist Sitaram Kattel, popularly known as Dhurmus, has laid foundation stone of Santapur Integrated Settlement for flood victims in Rautahat district.

Stones for the settlement were jointly laid by Kattel, his wife Kunjana Ghimire (Suntali) and local 107-year-old Ramkaliya Devi Hazara at Satapur village in Chandrapur Municipality-8 of the district on the occasion of Kattel's birthday on Wednesday.

Dhurmus-Suntali Foundation, formed by the artist and his wife, will start construction of the settlement Wednesday itself and plans to hand over to the flood victims at 9 am on February 7 next year.

Project Manager Arjun Neupane informed there will be 45 flood and quake-resistant houses, and one temple, community building, view temple, tap and toilet each in the settlement. The total cost of the settlement is estimated at Rs 57.5 million.

People from Majhi, Dusad, Lohar, Hajam community live in Santapur village. Artist Kattel and his team had reached the village to distribute relief after it was inundated by recent floods.

The foundation has already built settlements in Kavre, Sindhupalchowk and Mahottari district. It has also announced to build ambitious Model Nepal settlement.