At least 9 die, several missing in latest monsoon havoc

Kathmandu, July 7: At least nine persons died and several went missing in the wake of continuous rainfall since last night. The rainfall has also caused water levels to rise in the Bagmati, Bishnumati, Dhobikhola, Hanumante, and other rivers in the Kathmandu Valley.

Some traffic has been disrupted due to flooding on some roads within the Valley.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) issued a special bulletin on Friday, advising people to remain vigilant amidst heavy rainfall expected in 31 locations across Lumbini, Gandaki, and Bagmati provinces, and light to moderate precipitation across the country.

Due to rainfall since Saturday night, flow in the Narayani and Saptakoshi rivers has increased, the Department reported.

Shanti Kandel, senior meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the DHM, mentioned that heavy rainfall had been occurring throughout the country except in Koshi and Sudhurpaschim Provinces. However, Sudhurpaschim is also expected to experience heavy rainfall from Saturday night onwards, prompting advisories to remain alert, according to Kandel.

“Due to the monsoon trough near the low-pressure area, the monsoon has become active in Nepal, resulting in widespread rainfall,” Kandel explained.

With the low-pressure trough expected to linger near Nepal’s southern border in the coming days, and the monsoon likely to intensify further, the DHM has cautioned the public about potential landslides, debris flows, and urban and Tarai flooding. 

They have warned of possible rises in water levels in large and small rivers and streams, impacting daily life, agriculture, health, tourism, and transportation networks by road and air. 

Similarly, they have urged the general public and relevant agencies to take necessary precautions and make necessary preparations.

Additionally, the DHM has advised everyone to stay informed with weather updates through three-day weather bulletins issued by the division.

Police have been deployed in high-risk areas including Gokarneshwor, Balkhu, Bishnumati, Thapathali, Shankhamul, Manohara, Dhohikhola, Jadibuti Manohara River, and Pashupatinath areas.

The DHM has forecast that water levels in the Bagmati, Narayani, Kaligandaki, Marsyangdi, Babai, West Rapti, Mahakali, West Seti, and their tributaries would remain near the alert level on Saturday and Sunday, urging caution to residents.

Kumal Gau in Palpa received the heaviest rainfall in the last 24 hours until 6:45 pm on Saturday, measuring 404 mm. 

Similarly, Syangja received 303 mm, Dang 263 mm, Arghakhachi 217 mm, Parsa 197 mm, Lamjung 170 mm, Kritipur 150 mm, and Dhap Dam in Kathmandu received 153 mm during this period. The DHM considers rainfall above 100 mm within 24 hours as heavy rainfall.

In addition, a landslide buried a house in Bhumlu Rural Municipality-10 of Kavrepalanchok district due to incessant rain since Friday night.

According to the District Police Office Kavrepalanchok, a single-story house with two rooms belonging to 70-year-old Chameliya Thakuri was buried by a landslide that occurred at 4:40 pm on Saturday amidst continuous rain. Fortunately, there were no human casualties.

Meanwhile, roads have been blocked at various points on the BP Highway connecting eastern districts and the Araniko Highway connecting the border with China due to rains.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajkumar Shrestha, Information Officer of the District Police Office, Kavrepalanchok, reported that sections of the road at Narke and Charsayabesi of Roshi Rural Municipality-8, in front of Malang Janabijay Secondary School at Ward No. 9, Kaldhunga at Ward No. 11, and Mamti to Ward No. 12 were blocked after debris from Khahare Khola accumulated in these areas.

Additionally, the Damauli-Kotre road sections of the Prithvi Highway were blocked due to continuous rainfall. According to the District Traffic Police Office Tanahun, culverts at Mauribas in Myagde Rural Municipality-6 and Sera of Suklagandaki Municipality-7 were washed away by the flood.

The heavy rainfall caused water levels rise in the Bagmati River, resulting in the opening of all gates of the Bagmati Irrigation Barrage located in Sarlahi. As flooding worsened downstream towards the Sarlahi-Rautahat border, 35 

gates of the barrage were opened from Saturday afternoon.

According to Lilambar Khanal, head of the Panchara Dovan Water Level Measurement Centre, the water level in the Bagmati River was recorded at four metres at 3 pm on Saturday. 

Concerns arise if the water level reaches six metres. In another report from our correspondent in Hetauda, Anil Parajuli, continuous rainfall triggered a landslide blocking the road connecting Hetauda and Kathmandu. Since Saturday morning, heavy rainfall obstructed three short-distance roadways linking Hetauda to Kathmandu.

The Sisneri-Dakshinkali road connecting Hetauda and Kathmandu was blocked due to a landslide. The District Police Office, Makwanpur, confirmed that an alternative section of the Sisneri-Dakshinkali road was also obstructed by a landslide caused by continuous rainfall.

Police also reported a landslide on the Kanti Highway in Lalitpur, blocking the area. In Pratap Danda, Bhimphedi Rural Municipality Ward No. 8 of Makwanpur, the Kanti Highway section was completely blocked by a landslide due to continuous rainfall.

Additionally, the road entering Kathmandu from Hetauda via Matatirtha was also blocked. The road section leading to Chhakel and Deurali near Mahalaxmi Khola in Indrasarowar Rural Municipality Ward No. 5 was completely obstructed by a landslide.

Similarly, our correspondent in Charikot, Sujan Kafle, reported a flood and landslide causing one person to go missing in Dolakha. In Gaurishankar Rural Municipality-9, flooding in the Rolwaling River resulted in Jangmu Sherpa, a hotel operator on the Tsho Rolpa trail, going missing.

Gaurishankar Rural Municipality Chairman Bishwas Karki reported that Sherpa, approximately 60 years old, who operated a hotel in a place called Dogang in the ward, was missing. Chairman Karki also mentioned that the landslide destroyed seven houses, both small and large.

Amar Raj Naharki, our correspondent from Tanahun, reported that continuous rainfall since Friday night in Tanahun has triggered a landslide, resulting in the death of one person and three missing. One person has been injured.

Chief District Officer Janardan Gautam informed that one person died, one was injured, and three went missing due to the landslide in Rishing Rural Municipality-1, Jhputar, and Shuklagandaki Municipality-13, Kaure. 

The missing individuals are 40-year-old Hira Nepali, Anisha Bastola, 36, and Shyam Bhandari, 65, and the search for them is ongoing.

According to Gautam, Krishna Pulami Magar, 50, a local involved in the Tanahun Hydropower Project, died in Jhputar, while Somlal Shrestha, 51, from Sundarbazar Municipality-2 in Lamjung was injured. Shrestha is currently receiving treatment at Damauli Hospital. Additionally, three people were rescued from their homes by flooding in Bhimad.

Our correspondent from Nawalpur, Bom Lal Giri, reported that the Narayani River surpassed the warning level. With the river exceeding the warning threshold, the District Administration Office of Nawalpur urged residents along the riverbanks to exercise extreme caution.

According to the DHM, the water level in the Narayani River reached 11.21 metres, exceeding the danger mark set at 11 metres. Chief District Officer Arun Pokhrel urged vigilance as the water levels in the Narayani and Kaligandaki rivers rose due to heavy rainfall across various districts of Gandaki Province in recent days. The increased water levels pose a heightened risk of riverbank erosion and flooding.

In Nawalpur, continuous rainfall over the past five days, particularly heavy since last night, increased water flows in the Kerunge River, Lokaha River, Patthar River of Danda, Giruwari River, Baulaha River of Daldale, and the Narayani River in Kawasoti, Nawalpur.

Meanwhile, the water level in the Saptakoshi River also rose due to continuous rainfall. According to the Koshi Barrage Control Room, water flow reached 272,485 cubic feet per second at 3 pm on Saturday. Subsequently, 34 gates of the barrage were opened.

At the same time, our correspondent from Syangja, Arjun Kafle, reported two deaths and one person missing in a landslide in Lamakhet, Biruwa-6, Syangja. Ishwari Lamsal’s house was buried by a landslide on Saturday.

The landslide in Ward No. 6, Syangdi, claimed the lives of Guiswari Sharma Marasini, 65, and Haridevi Sharma, 58, while Madhav Sharma, 66, remains missing, according to local Jyoti Thapa.

Similarly, in Ward No. 7, Debisthan of Galyang Municipality, Mina Thapa’s shed was washed away, resulting in the death of a buffalo and a calf. 

Deputy Superintendent of Police Indra Bahadur Rana reported that the homes of Bishnu Maya Thapa, Mitra Kumari Baral, and Yam Bahadur Hitan were at risk.

In Putalibazar Municipality Ward No. 1, a landslide buried Farooq Ali’s workshop, covering a scooter with the number plate Ba 02-050 Pa 4018 and two motorcycle washing machines. In Ward No. 3, Kalimati, a landslide endangered Asa Rokka’s single-story concrete house.

In Aandhikhola Rural Municipality-3, a landslide destroyed Manmaya BK’s shed, resulting in the deaths of two goats. Saraswati Damai’s house in Arjun Chaupari-3 collapsed, while Guddu Damai’s house in Ward No. 1, Daregauda, suffered partial damage. An ox belonging to Top Bahadur Gurung for ploughing was swept away by the Khalte Thado River in Arjun Chaupari-1.

In Waling Municipality-1, Rambachha, Tek Bahadur BK’s shed was buried, resulting in the deaths of two goats and injuring another. In Galyang Municipality-6, Pidkhola, an ox owned by Dev Bahadur Gurung for ploughing went missing after the ground gave in.

According to the Lumbini Province Bureau in Ghorahi, several areas in Dang have been inundated, with roads blocked. Due to continuous rainfall, around a dozen more houses have been submerged in Upatyaka (Dang and Deukhuri areas).

Ram Bahadur KC, Chief of Police at the District Police Office in Dang, reported that water entered more than a dozen additional houses in various places such as Baluwatar in Ward No. 18 of Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City-17, Lathhawa in Rapti Rural Municipality-5, Pahuruwa, Kalapani, and Lamahi Municipality-7.

Inspector KC also noted that the police station in Sisahaniya area was inundated.

Similarly, one person died and another is missing in Deukhuri, Dang district. The District Police Office, Dang, informed that Chhediram Chaudhary, 55, a resident of Gangadi-5, was killed when the tractor with registration number Ra 1 Ta 2166 was swept away by the river.

According to Inspector KC, one person was missing due to flooding in the Rapti River. Rajkumar Yadav, 18, was swept away by the Rapti River in Hasnapur-7, Rapti Rural Municipality, on Saturday morning while returning home from selling milk in Lamahi Bazaar.

According to our correspondent in Tansen, Siddhartha Highway and other adjacent roads in the district have been affected. Despite efforts to clear water throughout the day, success was limited.

When landslides occurred in the Rivi Kot-4, Hatia, Aryabhanjyang-Rampur road section, the road was blocked from the morning and remains closed.