Floods kill one, displace hundreds

(Updated)

KATHMANDU, Aug 19: A person died on Tuesday while hundreds of families were displaced on Wednesday in Siraha and Kanchanpur due to floods triggered by incessant rainfall, according to our district correspondents. [break]

In Siraha, Shiva Shanker Kamati of Hanumannagar died on Tuesday after being swept by Mainawati River while he was collecting timber logs carried by the flood. His body was recovered on the banks of the river somewhere downstream the same evening, the police said.

Meanwhile, at least 60 people of 20 families in Bhokaha VDC-1 and 2 in Siraha were displaced after flood in Kamala River entered their houses. They left their houses on Wednesday and are taking refuge in a school located at an elevated area, according to Kuseshwor Sah, a local. Bhokaha is a remote village in the district and the families have not been able to leave the place as they are surrounded by floods from all sides, Sah said.

400 families displaced in Kanchanpur

In Kanchanpur in the far-west, more than 400 families have been displaced due to floods. The floods also swept away paddy crop planted in over hundreds of bigahas of land.

Movement of people has also been hindered as water level has risen in Mahakali River. Flood level in the river reached 347,000 cusec on Tuesday morning, but subsided to 303,000 cusin in the evening. In the river, a water level above 260,000 cusec is considered threatening.

Flood-hit in Tilki village at Dekhatbhuli VDC-3 of the district have asked the local administration for relocation instead of relief after Banahara and Machheli River completely swamped their village. Over 70 families were displaced by the flood.

Administrative officer Keshbadatta Joshi said they only 200 packets of relief food to provide for the victims. He said safe settlement for the displaced is something only the higher agencies can arrange.

Meanwhile, Donda River has inundated southern region of Ward No 1, 2 and 3 of Shankarpur VDC in Kanchanpur. More than five feet of water has been accumulated and the flood has swept every edible thing including other household items. Over 300 houses in a squatters´ settlement have been flooded in Salghari of Bhimdutta Municipality-18.

Flood in Doda River has completely swamped Parasan VDC-7 and 8 and 300 families have been displaced from there. The displaced have taken refuge at a school. When trees fell down at Janajaagaran community forest of Paraasan-6, seven electricity poles have been broken and electricity, transportation, industries and communication facilities have been obstructed for five days.

Thirty families from Shanti Tole in Dodhaara VDC-9 have also been displaced and they have taken refuge in local schools and relative´s places.

300 houses in Dharan under threat

Meanwhile in Dharan, around 350 houses in squatter settlements are under threat after flood in Sardu and Seuti rivers following three days of incessant rain started to erode banks.

Sardu river has threatened houses in Naulobasti and Loktantrikbasti of Dharan-16 while Seuti is moving toward Sundarbasti of Dharan-15.