Kaski Residents Donate Over NPR 7 Lakh to Bhote Koshi Flood Victims

Kaski. Residents of Sardikhola in Machhapuchchhre Rural Municipality-2, Kaski, who have endured the suffering of the devastating flood in the Seti River, have donated NPR 793,775 to the flood victims of Bhote Koshi in Rasuwa. The amount was raised through a relief collection campaign operated at the initiative of the ward office with the objective of assisting in the relief, rescue, and rehabilitation of citizens affected by the flood in the Bhote Koshi River on August 27. The collected amount was deposited in the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund on Wednesday. Sardikhola residents themselves had experienced the suffering of the devastating flood in the Seti River 14 years ago. It was a Saturday, April 23, 2012. The Kharpani market in Sardikhola was even more bustling that day. As it was a public holiday, there were many people going for picnics. The unexpected flood in the Seti River caused by an avalanche from Annapurna IV peak turned the Kharpani market of Sardikhola into a riverbed in an instant. More than 70 locals and tourists lost their lives in that flood. The flood also washed away houses and other physical structures in the Kharpani market, as well as a suspension bridge and the famous Tatopani pond. The Kharpani market, damaged by the flood, has not yet been restored. Remembering the disaster they suffered in the past, the residents of Sardikhola have contributed according to their capacity to the Bhote Koshi flood victims. Ward Chairman Ganesh Acharya said that 17 local development committees, mother groups, sister groups, various organizations, and local citizens participated in the relief collection campaign. According to him, local development organizations were mobilized to reach all citizens and collect donations. "We have seen and experienced the pain of the flood with our own eyes. Therefore, the citizens here understand the pain and suffering of the citizens affected by disasters in various districts, including Bhote Koshi. We conducted the relief collection campaign with the humanitarian spirit of helping as much as we can within our capacity. All households participated in it," said Ward Chairman Acharya. He stated that it is a humanitarian duty to help the citizens affected by the disaster now, as their own community has suffered from floods in the past. To ensure transparency in the collected amount, the ward office made the amount public in the presence of stakeholders. The amount was handed over to Govinda Acharya, Chief Executive Officer of Sardikhola Savings and Credit Cooperative Institution, and Treasurer Vipul Sharma, to be deposited in the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund. The cooperative institution has stated that it has already deposited the amount in the fund. The ward office has stated that it will keep a record of the names and donation amounts of individuals, local development committees, mother groups, sister groups, and various organizations that contributed to the relief campaign. Govinda Acharya, Chief Executive Officer of Sardikhola Savings and Credit Cooperative Institution, said that although the geographical distance between Sardikhola and Bhote Koshi is far, the pain of disaster is the same. "This help is not just for the current disaster, but it is also a message of how communities should stand by each other during disasters. It will inspire the new generation to help together whenever a disaster strikes anywhere in the country in the future," said Acharya.