KHOTANG: A mother and her daughter have gone missing after they were swept away by the flooded Tawakhola River at Mattim VDC of Khotang yesterday night.

The swollen river, triggered by heavy rainfall, swept away Pari Maya Rai, 40, and her 12-year-old Samita Rai while they were sleeping in a shanty on the banks of the river.

According to Chief District Officer Govinda Sapkota, though they started their search operation from on Sunday morning, but were yet to find their whereabouts.

DSP Binod Raj Kharel said that a police team deployed from Area Police Office Matimbirta and locals were jointly searching for the missing. The swollen river inundated paddy fields and temporary sheds in the area. “The flooded river destroyed a large amount of paddy,” lamented Ganesh Rai, a local.

Meanwhile, as many as 15 families of Khidima VDC have been displaced due to flooding in local Khobu, Kharuwa and Tawa Rivers. “The victims have been rescued to a safer places,” said Sam Raj Rai, a local.

The swollen rivers damaged powerhouses of two local micro hydropowers at Khidima and Temma. The flooded Khobu River swept away the 9.5KW Khobu Khola Micro hydropower based in Khidima-2 of the district.

Similarly, the powerhouse of Sanchahira Sana Micro Hydropower was also swept away, said CDO Sapkota.

The flooded rivers have also swept away at least three bridges at Mattim and Temma.

Sapsukhola swept away a bridge that connected Dorpachiuri and Ratanchha. As many as 15 fish ponds were swept away due to flooding at Temma. One saw mill each belonging to Ganesh Rai of Mattim-1 and Gyan Bahadur Rai of Mattim 5 were also damaged, said Prem Rai, a Mattim local. Dozens of cattle including goats, oxen, cows and buffaloes were swept away.

According to a police source, a house was buried in a landslide at Dorpachiuridanda of the district.

Meanwhile, a landslide caused by heavy rainfall damaged the 5MW Ragakhola Piko Hydro power at Kakada VDC-4, in Makawanpur yesterday night.

Dev Kumar Praja of the hydropower said that the reservoir of the project was completely destroyed whereas the powerhouse was partly damaged.

As many as 80 households of Raksirang-8 and Kakada-4 have been deprived of electricity due to damage to the hydropower projects.