RAUTAHAT, August 13 : In a tragic incident, six persons died after an ambulance ferrying a pregnant woman in labor pain was washed away by the floods in Rautahat district at around 4 am on Sunday.
The ambulance, en route to Gaur, the district headquarters of Rautahat, got inundated in the flood of Lalbakaiya River in Rajpur Farhadawa Chowk of India.
The incident took place when the daughter-in-law of Ramsewak Prasad Yadav of Laukaha, a local of Paroha Rural Municipality-3, was being taken to a hospital in Gaur, according to police. Among the deceased are Saroj Kumar Yadav, Chandan Kishor Yadav; Chandan's wife, mother and a daughter, according to Shatrughna Singh, a local.
The pain of mourning the death of six family members
The incessant heavy rainfall since the past three days has inundated many areas of Rautahat. The district headquarters Gaur is completely inundated by flood waters. According to locals, up to four feet of flood water has accumulated on the main roads. Almost all government office in the district headquarters have been inundated.
The Indian embankment along the no man's land has been blamed for the flooding and inundation in various places of Rautahat, including the district headquarters. The Garuda Municipality, Katahariya, Shivanagar, Samanpur, Bariyarpur, Rajpur, Gangapipira, Matsari Jhunkhunwa and Hajminiya Bazaar among other places have been inundated with flood waters.
Various rivers, including the Lal Bakaiya, Bagmati, Jhajha, Chadi, Aruwa, Lamaha among others are swollen to record levels, according to police. The District Police Office (DPO), Rautahat, estimates that floodwaters have entered over 400 houses in various areas of the district.
As of Sunday evening, six workers were observed sitting on top of a submerged crane, awaiting rescue. Area Police Office, Samanpur, informed that rescue work has been been affected due to rising water levels. According to police, rescue works can be carried only by boat or helicopter.
Situation in the district is said to be very critical. Floods and landslides have cut off communication lines in various villages. Nepal Telecom towers at Chandrapur, Garuda and Gaur have stopped working. Also, supply of electricity and drinking remains affected.
Thousands of people have been taking refuge in various community buildings, government schools and other places.
