LALITPUR, Oct 5: Flood triggered by persistent rain over three days last week in the Nakkhu Khola of Lalitpur caused significant damage to life and property.
The residents currently staying elsewhere and working to rehabilitate now are badly affected by the foul smell. The odor is even more deadly than the flood. They are afraid that it will cause an epidemic.
The flood has brought in dead livestock, damaged sewage systems, causing the Nakkhu Khola to smell foul. The flood victims reported to have been working wearing masks and concerned as now there is a great risk of an epidemic spreading.
Flood victims terrified over possibility of epidemics
Milan Yasmaili, ward no 4 resident of Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC), lamented that LMC sprayed disinfectants to reduce the foul smell, and while the odor has decreased somewhat, it is still very difficult to work in the settlements near the river.
“The spray has lessened the smell, but it has not completely gone away. If the foul odor persists, there is fear of an epidemic outbreak,” he said.
According to Ganesh KC, the 13 ward no chairperson, municipal police have been spraying disinfectants in the river for the past three days.
“We restored the power supply, but there is still the issue of water supply. The damage caused by flooding to the sewage system has exacerbated the smell problem. We are actively working on these issues,” he said.
Renu Limbu, ward no 25 resident, mentioned that the smell makes it difficult to work, especially when the wind blows or during the daytime heat.
“The odor is so deadly. We could not retrieve our belongings buried by the flood because of the smell. I'm worried that we might fall ill due to the odor,” she said.
