Tanahun, September 1:

Flood triggered by incessant rainfall in Chiti river in Tanahun on Saturday damaged property worth over Rs 40 millions when crops planted in over 400 ropanis of land in Purkot, Chowk Chisapani and Basantapur VDCs were swept away.

The flood swept away crops belonging to 40 families including Balram Panta, Baburam Bastakoti, Prakash Pandey, Ram Bahadur Bhujel, Bharat Pandey, Madhusudan Pandey, Bhakta Bahadur Saru, Shivadev Panta, Mahendra Thapa, Iswori Laudari, said a local Rabin Kadariya.

The peasants said this was the first time that they saw such a massive flood in the river.

The peasants who were well-to-do earlier are now said to be bankrupt after the flood swept away their crops. Likewise, landslide completely damaged Kalimati-Chowk Chisapani

and Laudari Bhanjyang roads, said a local Basu Raj Kadariya.

The landslide also swept the water supply pipelines, forcing the people to drink contaminated water from wells and river. Rabin Kadariya said two temples at Purkot VDC-1 were swept away by the landslide. The district agriculture development office said that the details of the damage were yet to be received.

Meanwhile, flood has displaced nine families at Chitikhola and adjoining areas. The displaced have been taking shelter in their relatives’ homes and cowsheds.

The flood and landslide has toppled electric poles and disrupted power supply lines. At least 2,500 people in the area are living in dark.