Narayani crosses danger mark Deluges large parts of Chitwan and Nawalparasi

CHITWAN, July 22: A large swathe of land along the banks of Narayani River in Chitwan and Nawalparasi districts have deluged, displacing hundreds of people, as the river has drastically risen above the danger mark for the first time in a decade.



As the river swelled up to nine and a half meters on Monday - one and a half meters above the danger mark- a dozen villages in western Chitwan, mostly in Mangalpur, Meghauli and Dibyanagar regions, have been affected the most.



The flood water has also entered into many houses by the river bank in Narayanghat municipality. Across the Narayani River Bridge, in Nawalparasi, the entire settlement of landless squatters at Gaindakot has been deluged, flooding around 60 houses. The compounds of Oxford College, Hotel River Crown and other buildings along the Gaindakot stretch of the East-West Highway have also been waterlogged.[break]



Mukundapur, Koluwa, Triveni and Benimani areas in Nawalparasi have also been hit hard.



In Chitwan, around three hundred families from half a dozen villages including those living in and around Saranpur, Jhanjhane, Ganesh Mandir, Setidevi Community Forest areas in Mangalpur region have already been displaced.  Much wildlife in Setidevi Community Forest areas have been swept away.



In Meghauli region, the raging river has flooded Sisabash, Salbash and Aandrauli villages, displacing many more. However, no serious casualties have been reported so far.



The river continues to swell



As the river continues to swell, the local residents are assisting the Nepal Army and Armed Police Force personnel deployed to carry out the rescue operation.

The local media have also been mobilized to urge the residents in the affected and vulnerable areas to move elsewhere.

A decade ago, many villages in western Chitwan had faced a massive inundation after the river rose above the danger mark.

A member of the Chitwan Disaster Management Committee, Balram Luitel said that torrential downpour upstream was responsible for the sudden surge in the river.

Major river systems, including the Kali Gandaki and the Seti, contribute to Narayani River.



“We have deployed rescue teams, which also comprise the army and police forces in all the flood hit areas to avert further damages,” said Chief District Officer of Chitwan, Narendra Sharma.

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