Floods and landslides wreck havoc in Koshi Province as monsoon begins

Published On: June 19, 2023 08:00 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Three dead, 30 missing in flood and landslide triggered by incessant rainfall in Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha and Panchthar

KATHMANDU, June 19: At least three people were killed and 30 others went missing in massive floods and landslides triggered by Saturday night’s incessant rainfall in the hill districts of eastern Nepal. Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha and Panchthar districts were the most affected after the monsoon entered the country a few days ago. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, monsoon entered Nepal on June 14 this year.

In Taplejung, two out of five people who went missing in a landslide triggered by incessant rainfall in Sidingwa Rural Municipality were confirmed dead. Three of the same family including Bhagimaya Budha Chhetri, her daughter-in-law Sandhya Budha Chhetri, and grandson Prajwal Budha Chhetri, a visitor Yadav Budha Chhetri and another local resident Ganesh Tamang were reported missing.

Bodies of Yadav Budha Chhetri and Ganesh Tamang were later found in a search operation conducted by the police and the local authorities on Sunday afternoon. Chief of the District Police Office, Taplejung, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rajan Limbu, informed Republica that 63-year-old Bhagimaya Budha Chhetri, her daughter-in-law Sandhya,30, and nine-year-old grandson Prajwal of Mehele are still missing and the search and rescue operation is underway.

According to the spokesperson and information officer of the District Police Office, Taplejung, Kusharam Karki, the bodies of Yadav Budha Chhetri and Ram Bahadur Tamang were recovered from the debris following a search operation. Yadab Budha Chhetri was reported to have visited the house of his sister-in-law in Pedang of Sirijanga Rural Municipality Ward No-5.

According to the District Police Office, the landslide caused extensive damage in the district, destroying four houses belonging to Maheshwar Selin, Prem Selin, Dilli Selin, and Naresh Selin, located in Ward No 3 of Siddhinga Rural Municipality.

In Sankhuwasabha district, out of 22 missing laborers missing in a massive flood on Saturday night, two laborers were rescued from the flood-affected area on Sunday. According to Chief of District Police Office, Sankhuwasabha, DSP Birendra Godar, Bardiya’s Tikaram Chaudhary, 24, and Deepak Raj Tharu, 35, who were working at the Super Hewa Khola Hydropower Project, were found in critical conditions.

The injured are currently being treated at a Primary Health Center in Sankhuwasabha, Chainpur.

Seven houses along the banks of the Hewa River have been swept away by the flood. DSP Godar stated that the flood has completely damaged the Super Hewa and Upper Hewa Hydro Project that was under construction in Chainpur-4.

According to the police officer, the flood has also caused damage to the under-construction bridge connecting Panchkapan and Chainpur. The Area Police Office in Chainpur and a team of Armed Police Force (APF) personnel have been deployed to the incident site for the search and rescue of the missing individuals.

In Panchthar district, five people are missing in the flood that occurred in Hewa River after the heavy rainfall overnight.

The District Police Office, Panchthar, identified them as Til Kumar Tamang, 45, of Hilihang Rural Municipality-7; Sanjog Limbu, 28, of Phidim Municipality-11; Raj Kumar Rai, 55, of Phidim Municipality-5; Ashish Majhi, 28, of Phidim Municipality-4 and Alisa Majhi, 25, of Hilihang Rural Municipality-7.

Juna, 8, daughter of Pradip Sauden of Phalelung Rural Municipality-4 of Panchthar, was rescued alive from debris but she later died during treatment. She was injured when her house was swept away by the swollen river in Phalelung-3.

Mechi highway blocked

The Mechi Highway and the roads along the Tamor Corridor have been disrupted by the flood. The details of the losses are being collected.

Road connectivity between Panchthar and neighboring Taplejung district and between Hilihang and Yangwarak have been disconnected after the flooded Hewa River washed away bridges.

According to police sources, the river washed away four bridges: one along the Mechi Highway, one Bailey bridge along the Tamor corridor and two at Phalelung Rural Municipality. The flooded river also swept away an excavator belonging to the Tamor Hydropower Project from Phalelung.

The disruption of roads has caused inconvenience to take people requiring emergency medical services to hospitals. Likewise, the supplies of dairy products and green vegetables produced in the area have been disrupted, causing a huge loss to the farmers.

PM Dahal directs authorities to speedy search of those missing

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed the officials concerned and the line agencies to work proactively for the speedy search of those missing in the flooding and carry out rescue and relief operations in the affected communities in the eastern hill districts.

Prime Minister Dahal has appealed to the civilians, security bodies and government employees to unite for the rescue operations of the flood-hit communities. He has also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and properties as a result of floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall.