Five killed in 24 hours of monsoon mayhem

Kathmandu, Aug.1: Floods and landslides triggered by heavy downpour since Tuesday night in many places of the country have claimed five lives in the last 24 hours, according to Nepal Police.

According to an update of the monsoon disaster made by the Police Headquarters on Wednesday evening, Ram Sworup Mahatara, 45, was found dead in Balkhu River in Kathmandu-14, on Wednesday morning. 

Similarly, two workers have died after being swept away by a flood that came in a local Ikhuwa River in Silpasilichho Rural Municipality in Bhojpur. 

The labourers working in Ikhuwa Hydropwer Project who went missing were found dead on Wednesday afternoon, according to a police statement. The deceased labourers were identified as Shyam Kumar Tharu, 36, of Bar Bardiya Rural Municipality of Bardiya, and Ramesh Tharu, 30, of the same Rural Municipality. 

In the same incident, another employee 26-year-old Ram Kishan Tharu was rescued safely.

Likewise, six-year-old son Bikram Lamichhane of Bina Bhandari of Belkotgadhi Municipality-6 of Piple, died after being swept away by a flood in local Chipchinde River on Wednesday morning. The boy, who went missing, was found dead during a search operation, said police. 

Another 67-year-old Tej Bahadur Bhandari of Tulshipur Sub Metrpolis-2 of Dang, died after being swept away by a local Chiraghat River on Wednesday afternoon. 

Meanwhile, according to the central police spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General Dan Bahadur Karki, floods, landslides and inundations triggered by incessant rains since the onset of monsoon have claimed a total of 145 lives as of July 31. 

Of the total deceased, two died in Kathmandu Valley, 24 in Koshi Province, six in Madhes Province, 29 in Bagmati Province, 42 in Gandaki Province, 24 in Lumbini Province, eight in Karnali Province and 10 in Sudurpashim Province.

In addition, 10 persons were injured in Kathmandu valley, 37 in Koshi Province, 10 people in Madhes Province, nine people in Bagmati Province, 34 in Gandaki Province, nine in Lumbini Province, 51 in Karnali Province and 14 in Sudurpaschi Province. In addition, three persons were rescued in Kathmandu Valley, 49 in Koshi, 14 in Gandaki, two in Karnali and five in Sudurpaschim. 

Likewise, 47 persons had still been missing in floods and landslides. A total of 184 houses have been inundated by floods and 4,063 families have been displaced by the monsoon mayhem.

Kathmandu Valley waterlogged  

In a situation where there hadn't been significant monsoon rainfall for a few weeks, the heavy and continuous rain that started from midnight on Tuesday caused billions of rupees worth of physical damage across the country, and there have been some instances of human casualties.

The heavy rain from midnight caused the water levels in the major rivers and streams of the Kathmandu Valley to cross the danger level.

Accordingly, 15 persons stranded in Radha Swami area near Sundarighat, Kirtipur Municipality-10 of Kathmandu were rescued by the Armed Police Force and Nepal Police.

A security team from Nepal No. 18 Nilbarahi Battalion rescued the them trapped in the flood. After receiving information of the flood, the troops were deployed from the battalion at 5:00 am on Wednesday.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shailendra Thapa said that the stranded people were rescued using tubes and ropes and brought to a safe place.

Similarly, the residents of the lower area within Radhe Radhe, Sangam Colony, Kameratar Land Integration Project in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality-5 were affected by the floods since Tuesday night. 

They were busy moving their household items to a safe place and their vehicles to higher places as the floodwaters entered the settlement.

Goods in underground shops and small industries were submerged. While some people managed to save their belongings, many lost theirs. 

This issue wasn't caused by the Hanumante River flooding the area; it was due to the negligence of the Kameratar Land Integration Project and Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, the locals said.

The overnight rainfall not only submerged hospitals, schools, settlements, industries, and factories around the Hanumante and its tributaries, but the affected families reported millions in losses.

More than 70 houses from Balkot in Suryabinayak Municipality to Sirutaar were flooded.

The flood from the Hanumante River entered the settlement through the Balkot bridge, submerging Marigold School and the surrounding areas. The Balkot road was blocked from morning until 9 AM, and schools were closed. The microbus park area in Balkot was also flooded.

Arun Sainju, the coordinator of the RNA Group, said that more than 50 persons were rescued by the police and locals engaged in rescue operations from 1:00 am in the Balkot area. He said that Bhaktapur has been in disarray since the night.