Nepali Army supplying water to drought-hit Saptari locals

By Binay Karna,Kalyanpur, Aug,1: As extreme heat has deepened the drinking water crisis in Saptari, the Nepali Army has stepped in to distribute potable water across affected areas, offering critical relief to residents.

With support from the Madhes Provincial Government, the Barakh Battalion, stationed in Rajbiraj, has delivered over 66,500 litres of clean drinking water to various local levels in the district.

According to Commanding Officer Major Sobhit Bahadur Chand, 17,264 households have benefited from this initiative. Water was supplied to 15 high-need locations across Rupani and Rajgadh rural municipalities, as well as Rajbiraj and Surunga municipalities, using fire trucks.

A prolonged dry spell during the monsoon season has led to reduced groundwater levels, drying up tube wells and halting paddy transplantation. In this crisis, the Army has been distributing 5,000 to 10,000 litres of water daily, acting as a frontline responder.

So far, the army has distributed 34,500 litres in Rupani, 18,000 litres in Rajgadh, 9,000 litres in Rajbiraj, and 5,000 litres in Surunga.

Rupani Rural Municipality Chairperson Dinesh Kumar Yadav appreciated the Army’s efforts, stating that the initiative has not only quenched people’s thirst but also demonstrated that the military can serve as humanitarian responders, not just security forces.