Ara: People of Jawaniya village under Damodarpur panchayat in Shahpur block of Bhojpur district are spending sleepless nights as the Ganga river continues to erode land at an alarming pace, swallowing homes and temples.“About 50 houses have been lost to the river in the past seven days,” said Ram Awatar Yadav, a local resident whose house was among 15 that were swept away on Tuesday.Another villager, Lagan Gond, shared his ordeal: “Even the remains of my house, which partially survived last year’s flood, have been completely consumed by the river this time. I built it with much effort, and now it’s gone.”The erosion has also claimed a concrete water tank built by the govt in ward no. 4 of Jawaniya village. Religious sites, including Govardhan and Kali temples, and two ancient peepal and neem trees, have also been submerged.On it’s part, Bhojpur district administration has given Rs 1.20 lakh each to 59 flood-affected people whose houses went under the river Ganga last year. Besides this 29 people have been given the land ‘parcha’ for building their new homes at safer places, said DM Tanai Sultania.To help the displaced, the administration has increased the number of community kitchens from one to three. These are currently operational at Jawaniya High School, Jawaniya embankment and Damodarpur village embankment, according to revenue official Nitish Kumar.Relief measures include free medical camps, potable water, milk for children, fodder for cattle, polythene sheets and transportation to safer areas. “Instructions have been issued to ensure the distribution of quality meals to affected villagers,” stated a press release from the DM’s office.Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Ara MP Sudama Prasad called for immediate and permanent measures. “A concrete embankment must be constructed to prevent future disasters. The root cause erosion needs a lasting solution,” he said, also demanding compensation of Rs 25 lakh each for families who lost their homes in the flood.
