Rasuwa. The main paddy field of Uttargaya Rural Municipality Ward No. 4 and 5 has been turned into Bagar.

The devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi River on August 26 has turned the entire arable land of the ward into a riverbank.

The highly fertile agricultural areas on the banks of the Trishuli River including Upper Pairebesi, Lower Pairebesi, Khalte, Naubise, Kaidletar and Betrawati are covered with sand and stones brought by the floods.

The food security and livelihood of the locals has been severely threatened after the fields that were supposed to ripen throughout the year have suddenly turned into barren fields.

According to Madhav Aryal, chairman of Uttargaya Rural Municipality, the floods have damaged a large amount of arable land in the rural municipality. Chairman Aryal said, “The flash flood in the Bhotekoshi river has buried the main paddy producing area of the rural municipality. ”

The farmers are in a big crisis as the land that can grow crops throughout the year has become barren. The rural municipality is collecting full details of the damage. The municipality is coordinating with the state and federal government to provide immediate relief to the affected farmers and provide proper compensation.

It is estimated that an estimated 1,806 hectares of arable land has been damaged in Rasuwa district alone due to the floods. The affected farmers are worried as the arable land has been destroyed during the main paddy harvesting season.