SUNSARI- Mohammad Ismaan, 55, of Haripur-8, who was taking shelter at a government-run camp after being displaced by the Koshi flood, died at Birat Nursing Home, Sunday night. He was suffering from diarrhea and high fever. With this, the Koshi flood death toll has reached 17. Two persons are still missing. Meanwhile, health workers from Birendra Army Hospital carried out health check up of over 5000 persons inside camps for the displaced at Inaruwa and adjoining areas. Likewise, the government has deployed 70 medical teams inside the camps to tend to the sick.

Experts discuss ways to correct Koshi course

SUNSARI- Water resource experts from Nepal and India held a meeting on Monday to discuss ways to correct the Koshi River flow back to its normal course. The two sides have planned to construct a new channel 4 Km north to flood hit Paschim Kusaha for which survey has been initiated, said Mohan Bhattarai, Chief Engineer at Water Induced Disaster Control Division. Koshi River had changed its course and entered human settlements in the district after it breached an embankment at Paschim Kusaha three weeks ago.

NT distributes 30 CDMA lines at camps

SUNSARI-Nepal Telecom (NT) has provided 30 CDMA telephone lines at the 29 government-run camps for the flood displaced in the district. The telephone lines will be useful in making free of cost emergency calls said NT Deputy Managing Director Kanhaiyalal Gupta. Telephone service in flood hit Paschim Kusaha, Haripur, Shripur and Paschim Laukahi was cut off by the Koshi flood.

Bihar govt responsible for floods: Indian MP

SAPTARI-Indian Lok Sabha member Devendra Prasad Yadav on Monday held Bihar state government responsible for the Koshi flood. "Bihar authority kept on ignoring the central government's call for a report pertaining to the Koshi barrage and when it finally submitted the report, it was just two days before the devastation. The report said the barrage system was in good condition," said Yadav, who had arrived in the district to inspect flood hit areas. He also expressed discontent at Bihar government for bringing up the issue of security concern as excuse for delaying barrage maintenance. Yadav, who is also a member of Rastriya Janata Dal, said India did not betray Nepal in the Koshi Treaty. "The treaty was signed keeping in mind the interests of both countries," he said. Yadav also claimed that India has no problem whatsoever if Nepal government wants to review the treaty.

A difficult Ramadan for displaced Muslims

SUNSARI- The Muslim people inside the displaced camps have demanded the government oversee and facilitate their month long festival of Ramadan. During Ramadan festival, the Muslim people fast throughout the day and eat only once at night for one whole month. However, the flood hit Muslim people inside the government-run shelters have complained that they are not getting any facility or environment to celebrate Ramadan.

Donations for flood victims rising

KATHMANDU - Donors continued contributing fund for Koshi flood victims in Kantipur Rastriya Bipatti Sahayog Kosh established by Kantipur Group. Bidyadevi Bhandari for All Nepal Women Association handed over Rs 101,000 in cheque to Rameshwar Thapa, director of Kantipur Publications on Monday.

Similarly, Durga Prasad Dahal, living in California , USA contributed Rs 101,000 to the fund. He has been helping Nepali brothers and sisters residing in America and he is also running Kathmandu Kitchen restaurant chain. Pratik Sharma on behalf of Dahal handed over a cheque bearing the amount to Thapa. Another, Rs 77,151 was collected in Prime Minister Relief Fund through Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).

Source: The Kathmandu Post, 9 September 2008