Saptakoshi Municipality-4 inundated due to collapse of Chandra Canal

Saptari, Aug 8: A majority of wards in Saptakoshi Municipality in the Saptari district have been submerged after Chandra Nahar (Chandra Canal) collapsed.     

The oldest canal in the country at Tulasichowk in ward 4 was damaged by the rain-triggered flood. Zahir Hussein, Ward chairperson of ward no 2, shared that the flood in Mamaha Jutpani, Satrapatra, and Tyangra among other rivers damaged the canal leading to the inundation of several houses in Saptakoshi Municipality.     

The Municipality has 11 wards is situated in between the Saptakoshi River in the east, Chure hill in the west and Triyuga River in the south. Damages on properties worth millions were incurred due to flood and inundation.     

Paddy planted across hundreds of bigha was also destroyed in inundation, shared Krishna Prasad Dhakal, mayor of Saptakoshi Municipality.     

The ward office in ward no 1 was also submerged, informed office assistant Raj Kumar Ram, adding that all the papers and electronic devices were damaged.     

The water from the damaged canal entered the human settlement at night which added to the woes of the locals here. Ram Bahadur Bista said that water rose up to six feet at his house.     

The water of swollen rivers and rivulets entered the canal and swept away the canal, according to another local Gunaraj Sapkota.     

The canal has been the oldest irrigation facility in the country. Around a dozen of siphons (funnel/tube) in the Canal built from the main damn to the Ganga Jali River will be shut down.  (RSS)