Country receives heavy rainfall

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 28: The country experienced heavy rainfall, with Jhapa receiving 304.4 mm and Ilam 300 mm in 24 hours as of 8 pm on Friday.

The people across the country were worried when it rained heavily everywhere. 

Around 60 stations across the country recorded over 100 mm of rainfall in 24 hours on Friday. The Bahundangi station in Jhapa recorded 194.2 mm, the Barmajhiya station in Saptari recorded 182.2 mm, the Sundarpur station in Udayapur recorded 146 mm, Siraha Hydro in Siraha recorded 101.4 mm, the Kaliya station in Bara recorded 144 mm, Mudali station in Parsa recorded 147.6 mm, Damon station in Makawanpur recorded 172.2 mm and Lele station in Lalitpur recorded 189.2 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours. 

Similarly, Archale station in Palpa recorded 250 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, Bahuni station in Morang recorded 200 mm, Kanchikot station in Arghakhachi recorded 167 mm, Bagastoti station in Dang recorded 103.4 mm, Bharse station in Gulmi recorded 118 mm, Korkanita station in Parbat recorded 121.6 mm, Dhangadhi station in Kailali recorded 104.4 mm and Semari station in Nawalparasi East recorded 166 mm of rainfall by 8 pm on Friday.

In Kathmandu, Kirtipur station recorded 147.8 mm, Babarmahal station recorded 102.8 mm, Panipokhari station recorded 93 mm, and Budhanilkantha station recorded 102.6 mm of rainfall during the same period. Similarly, Bhaktapur recorded at 105.4 mm. 

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), along with the monsoon winds, a low-pressure system in and around northern-central Maharashtra, India, is also influencing the country's weather.

The DHM issued a weather bulletin on Friday warning of thunderstorms and light to moderate rainfall in many places in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces for Friday and Saturday.

For Saturday, the DHM has predicted a possibility of heavy rainfall in some areas of Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces. A few areas of Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces will receive extremely heavy rainfall, it said.

Similarly, there is a possibility of strong winds in some areas of Gandaki, Lumbini, and Sudurpashchim provinces

There is also a chance of heavy rainfall in one or two areas of Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces on Sunday as well. There is also a possibility of strong winds in some areas of these provinces, the DHM said.

The department has urged the public in areas expecting very heavy rainfall, particularly in Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces, to remain cautious due to the potential risks of floods, landslides and inundation. Water levels in major rivers, small streams, and rivulets may rise in these regions, it said. The rainfall throughout the day culminated in heavy traffic jams in the capital on Friday.

“It took me one and a half hours to reach New Road from Chandol,” a man was heard saying in New Road Friday afternoon. 

Meanwhile, landslides triggered by continuous rainfall have obstructed several roads across the country. A landslide at Sisnekhola in Dhading obstructed the Naubise-Nagdhunga section of the road, bringing vehicular movement to and from Kathmandu to a complete halt. 

Likewise, the Kantilokpath connecting Kathmandu with Hetauda has also been blocked due to landslides. 

Similarly, the incessant rainfall for the past three days has affected normal life in Panchthar. Most of the roads connecting the district headquarters Phidim with the municipality centres and wards have been blocked. In some places, the main roads were also obstructed.  

The Tamor corridor connecting Panchthar and Taplejung districts via Mulghat in Dhankuta has also been shut down for the last two days.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Hemanta Bhandari for District Police Office Panchthar, transportation and vehicles coming from Dhankuta to Panchthar and from Taplejung to Mulghat and further to Biratnagar have been halted after a flood in the Nawa River damaged roads. 

Additionally, the road from Ranke in Panchthar to Bhatedar in Dhankuta, passing through Rabi 6 Number Budhbare, has also been blocked due to landslides.High alert in Jhapa

Likewise, the local administration in Jhapa has issued an alert notice after continuous and heavy rain for the past two days. The District Administration Office of Jhapa has instructed all subordinate agencies to remain in a state of high alert.  

As the water level in the Kankai, Mawa and Ratuwa rivers has increased, caution has been advised in areas that may experience flooding, according to the Chief District Officer of Jhapa, Bandhu Prasad Bastola.