Susta residents work through the night to hold back the Narayani river
Summary
Residents of Susta Rural Municipality-5 are working through the night to reinforce a vulnerable stretch of the Narayani riverbank as erosion and floodwaters threaten to enter their settlement. Local leaders say Indian objections have blocked permanent embankment work, leaving the community to build a temporary barrier with soil, stones and sacks.
Key Points
- Residents of Susta have been hauling soil sacks and arranging wire mesh overnight to prevent the Narayani river from flooding their settlement.
- The river has been eroding the bank more aggressively this year, while residents say Indian security personnel have obstructed permanent embankment construction on the Nepal side.
- Lumbini Province Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya and MP Bikram Khanal inspected the site and promised support for urgent flood-control measures.
- The community says it needs diplomatic intervention with India so a properly engineered embankment can be built along the border river.
