SOLUKHUMBU, Aug 17: The flash flood that occurred in Thame Khola in Solukhumbu district on Friday has disrupted traffic up to Namche, the gateway to Everest. According to the Area Police Office, Namche, the flood has washed away the trekking trail from Fakding to Namche, disrupting movement between the lower region and the Everest area.
According to Police Inspector Hem Bahadur Katwal, about 100 meters of the trekking trail between Fakding and Namche has been eroded by the river at two places. As a result, movement from Lukla to Thame via Namche has been disrupted. He mentioned that the trail, which is the only route that leads to Everest, has been blocked by the erosion caused by the Bhote Koshi River, locally known as Thame river as it originates above the Thame village which was devastated by the flood. The flood, carrying debris from the Thame River, merged into the Dudh Koshi River at a confluence just below Namche, thereby obstructing the trekking trail.
Local Lhakpa Nuru Sherpa said communication services in the area were also disrupted as the flood washed away a dam of a local hydroelectric project in Khumbu.
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“Thame is in a tense state at the moment; there are no lights, no phone, no TV. Everything was swept away by the flood – everything except the lives of the locals. It is very difficult here. The tourist village was completely covered with debris,” said Sherpa. The flood washed away 20 houses including hotels and lodges, a health post, and a school in Thame which falls in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-5.
The Nepalese Army and police have rescued 93 people from Thame and evacuated them to a house behind the army camp, while 42 people have been housed in a local community building, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dwarika Prasad Ghimire said.
As the flood also affected the river basin areas of lower Solu, police relocated five families from Mapya Dudh Koshi Rural Municipality-6.
The flood also eroded the downstream river basin areas of the Dudh Koshi River, causing significant damage to the concrete motorable bridge over the Dudh Koshi River that connects Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality and Mapya Dudh Koshi Rural Municipality. According to the District Police Office, Solukhumbu, the bridge has been rendered unsuitable for vehicle use. Along with the damage to the bridge, the direct road network from Salleri to Khumbu has also been disrupted.
Meanwhile, a team including Defense Minister Manbir Rai inspected the flood-hit Thame village via a Nepalese Army helicopter. A team from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), along with Defense Minister Rai, arrived in Thame from Kathmandu for an on-site inspection of the village, which was swept away by the floodwaters from the Thame River on Friday afternoon. The inspection team includes the Solukhumbu Chief District Officer, DSP, Nepal Army Colonel, district lawmakers, and others. RSS
