Heavy rains cause inundation, landslides across nation

By Our Correspondents , Nepalgunj, July 21: Heavy downpours that lashed Nepalgunj and Kohalpur regions, in Banke, on Tuesday night left markets, city areas and many houses there submerged for hours on Wednesday

The inundation has brought the normal life to a standstill. Major roads connecting Nepalgunj-Surkhet road, as well as other local and inner roads like Dhambojhi, Setu-BK road side are waterlogged.

Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan Office said that many areas of the city are under water or flooded because the rain was too heavy and the roads were filled with water after drainage system got overwhelmed. 

In Gharbari Tole, traders were seen clearing their shops of water that seeped inside with bucket. 

Krishna Prasad Shrestha, a civil society leader and businessman, said that most of the shops in the area remain waterlogged. 

He said that because of a lack of canal behind Setu BK Chowk, the place has been facing the problem of inundation every year. 

Similarly, in Ganeshpur area of ​Ward No. 4 and some shops in some lower belt of Ward No. 11 and 12, lie under flood water.  

Budhiganga River sweeps houses 

The swollen Budhiganga River, following incessant rains since Tuesday night in Bajura, has swept away two houses in Badimalika Municipality-2. 

According to District Police Office Bajura, the houses of Amar Raj Pandit and Tarka Raj Pandit of the municipality were swept away by the flood. Amar Raj Pandit said that after the houses and his lands were washed away by the river, his family are worried about their proper settlement and arrangement of daily food. 

Surya Bahadur Thapa, Chief of District Police Office, said that 23 families at risk of the flood have also been relocated to safety by making arrangements of tarpaulins and temporary shelters. Reports on scale of damage are yet to be collected, said the police. 

Landslides obstruct rural roads  

Meanwhile, Our Baitadi Correspondent adds that landslides triggered by heavy rains since Tuesday night have blocked at least 10 rural roads in the district. 

On Wednesday morning, a landslide that hit Surnaya Rural Municipality-8 Sela buried the two-storey concrete shop of Dhani Saud. Saud said that his shop was buried by the landslide which originated from the hill where Ganesh Primary School is located. 

He said that the house of Ramesh Bahadur Saud, a resident of the same place, was at risk of being hit by a landslide. Saud said that he reported the incident to the local Dholyamod police station. 

Landslides have also hit some places from Patan Municipality-8, Khodpe to Bhanjyang on the Baitadi-Bajhang road section. 

Harish Bista, ward Chairman of Patan Municipality-8, said that after the vehicular movement was stopped for seven hours, debris have been cleared from the road side at the initiative of the road division office, Patan, and the traffic has been resumed from Wednesday afternoon.