Floods affect life in southern plains

By A Staff Reporter  Kathmandu, July 29: Floods triggered by heavy rains affected life in southern plains on Tuesday. Cities like Birtamod, Biratnagar, Itahari and Inaruwa in Province 1 and Butwal in Lumbini submerged as the highways passing through these cities turned into flooded rivers, affecting vehicular movements. 

Although only one casualty was reported from flood on Tuesday, 13 persons lost their lives in the floods and landslides in the last weeks, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA). 

Altogether 62 incidents of floods and landslides have been reported at the NDRRMA as of June 28, in which 10 died in landslides and three in 

floods. So far 80 families have been affected by the monsoon-induced disasters. Of the total affected families, 66 were affected by the landslides and 14 by the floods.  

Life was also affected in Morang due to rains on Tuesday.

According to Morang Chief District Officer Kashiraj Dahal, life was affected by floods and inundation in all 17 local levels of the district. 

Floods sweeps away man in Morang

Ram Bahadur BK of Sundaraharaincha Municipality-6 Morang died after being swept away by the flood. BK’s body was found at Aitabare of Sundaraharaincha-3. 

Morang Police Spokesperson and Deputy Superintendent of Police Deepak Shrestha said that BK was found dead after being swept away by the Gachhiya River Monday evening.

Similarly, a bridge under construction at Turke Khola in Kerabari Rural Municipality-9 Belchauri of 

Morang collapsed due to rain. Half of the portion of the bridge connecting Belchauri and Bhaluwa collapsed due to floods. 

Twenty-five families of Biratnagar Metropolitan City-8 have been displaced. Ninety-five families potentially at risk have been evacuated to a safe place. 

The flood in Bhaluwa Khola in Kanepokhari-6 has swept away seven piglets of Tej Bahadur Darji, causing a loss of property worth Rs. 28,000. Similarly, eight families in Belbari-6 have been rescued by their relatives after the Khaite Khola flooded, said spokesperson Shrestha.

Hospital’s services affected

A regular hospital service has been disrupted after a flood entered into an emergency ward of Birat Teaching Hospital in Budhiganga Rural Municipality-2 of Morang. The emergency room on the ground floor has been closed after flood water entered the hospital premises. 

Similarly, 115 people of 26 houses have been shifted to the ward office building after the flood in Singhiya Khola entered their houses, said Spokesperson Shrestha. 

Police request to provide information 

The District Police Office, Morang has requested the citizens to contact the nearest police office immediately in case of risk of monsoon disaster. Spokesperson Shrestha said that the citizens have been requested to contact the police immediately if they feel the risk of flood, landslide and drowning.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan City has formed a flood response team. The metropolis has formed a nine-member team for monsoon disaster management. 

Meanwhile, most areas of Itahari sub-metropolis have been inundated and submerged. Most of the area in Itahari has been inundated as local sewers and streams flooded the roads and human settlements. The floods in Tengra River, Kheti River and Budhi River and Sukumari River of Itahari have entered human settlements. Wards 2, 3, 5, 4, 6, 8, 9, 20 of Itahari have been affected badly. 

Madanbhandari highway blocked

Meanwhile, traffic along the Madan Bhandari Highway has been blocked since Tuesday afternoon due to floods in local rivers along with continuous rains. Chairman of Ward No. 9, Prakash Raut, who is also the spokesperson for Chaudandigadhi Municipality, said that dozens of cargo and passenger vehicles have stranded on their way after the flood in Jamire River in Ward No. 9 of the municipality in Udayapur district.Butwal submerges 

Meanwhile, all the roads in Butwal have been inundated due to heavy rains. Most of the main highways have been submerged in flood water since Tuesday morning. 

Pedestrians have been facing  problems as the road has been inundated and muddy. 

Lack of proper drainage system on the road sides has also eroded some blacktopped roads in Kalikanagar. Heavy water has also accumulated in the hospital line area. The water level in Tinau River has risen following the rains.

(With inputs from Bishnu Pokhrel from Jhapa, Hari Koirala from Urlabari, Bhotraj Rai from Gaighat and Kapil Gyawali from Butwal)