Three dead, hundreds of houses inundated

Kavre, August 21

Three persons died and two others were injured due to floods and landslides triggered by torrential rain in different parts of the country last night, while dozens of settlements were inundated.

According to Kavre district police office, a couple died when their mud house caved in due to the rain in Tukuchanala VDC, Kavre, on Thursday night. The deceased have been identified as Laxman KC, 41, and his 35-year-old wife Gita. Their nine-year-old son Bijaya and nephew Dinesh Karki, 12, were injured in the incident. The children have returned home following treatment at Banepa-based Shir Memorial Hospital.

Earlier, the local administration had relocated around a dozen households in Wards No 5, 6, and 7 in the VDC due to the risk of landslide. Landslide in Sarsyunkharka, Khanigaun, has caused obstruction of the rural road.

Elsewhere, landslide claimed the life of Bagh Bahadur Tamang, 46, in Khare VDC of Dolakha. He was buried under landslide debris yesterday night. Police retrieved his body from the debris this morning. In Morang, the swollen Bakraha River inundated over 200 houses. According to the locals, water gushed into the houses in Madhumalla VDC when the flooded river burst through a freshly built dam in Madhumalla. The victim families have moved to safer places.

In Chitwan, the flooded Riukhola River swept away two houses of Ratani village in Madi Municipality, Chitwan. According to Inspector Nirmal Thapa of Area Police Office, Madi, houses of Phul Kumari Pawe and Dhodha Mahato were washed away by the floods. The families, fortunately, could make it to their safety in the nick of the time. Over a dozen families have been shifted to a nearby school here in view of the flood threat.

Most of the culverts have been damaged due to the floods leading to the obstruction of the vehicular traffic.

Saptakoshi on high alert

SUNSARI: The water level rose to a record high in the Saptakoshi River on Friday. According to Police Post at Koshi Barrage, the water level was measured at 1,97,385 cusec per second at 4:00pm on Friday.

It is generally considered dangerous if the water flow crosses 1,05,000 cusec. Of the 56 sluice gates, 26 were opened, said ASI Nar Bahadur Khadka. Following the rise in water level, red light glows to signal the danger. ASI Khadka said the water level had been above 1,50,000 cusec since last Monday.

The swollen river and delay in opening all the sluice gates has spread panic among the locals. Sunsari CDO Rabilal Panth said Nepal Police, as well as APF personnel, were put on high alert at Haripur, Bhantabari, Mahendranagar and Chatara areas.

When the Koshi River breached its eastern embankment some seven years ago, its water flow was gauged at 1,68,000 cusec per second. The dyke breach had displaced more than 5,000 households at Haripur, Shreepur and Kushaha, among others.