Flooding disrupts Sarlahi transport

By Our Correspondent,Sarlahi, Apr. 28: Residents in remote Chure areas of Sarlahi are facing hardship after repeated flooding damaged river crossings used as transport routes.

Intermittent rainfall since Saturday evening has washed away sections of riverbeds that serve as roads linking rural settlements in Lalbandi and Ishwarpur municipalities, disrupting travel.

Further rainfall on Monday morning increased water levels, preventing vehicles from operating, according to bus operator and driver Kumar Moktan, who runs services along the Lalbandi–Narayan Khola–Marine route.

In areas without proper roads—including Narayan Khola, Shir Kalinjor, Bhitrikhola, Shir Phuljor, Pipaldamar and Lamidamar, transport typically runs along riverbeds such as the Lakhandehi, Daini, Kalinjor, Phuljor and Banke rivers.

Ward Chair Chenam Singh Ghising of Lalbandi–14 said this is the second time in a month that heavy rainfall has washed away these routes, severely affecting transport.

Following rainfall on Sunday morning, buses travelling via Narayan Khola to Marine in Sindhuli were unable to operate. One bus travelling from Lalbandi Bazaar to Marinechap became stranded at Narayandobhan in Narayan Khola on Sunday afternoon.

With all forms of transport—including motorcycles, jeeps and buses- unable to operate, residents in the Chure region have been forced to walk for more than three hours to reach Lalbandi Bazaar. Many travelled on foot on Monday, a weekly market day, for essential errands.

Operators say services will resume once the weather improves and routes are repaired. Locals report that during the monsoon, such disruptions create severe difficulties in transporting emergency patients and pregnant women to the hospital.

Residents of the Chure areas in Lalbandi and Ishwarpur municipalities, bordering Sindhuli, rely on Lalbandi Bazaar along the East-West Highway for daily necessities and healthcare.