National
Floods inundate villages in Jhapa
Settlements at Khudunabari-3, 4 and 5 in the district were inundated for around 24 hours after the flooded Biring river breached an embankment on Tuesday night.Lila Baral
Villagers said flood waters from the Biring and Tangting rivers also damaged paddy in the area.
Local resident Dhana Bahadur Tamang said the flood damaged his house and drowned everything. “I am taking shelter at neighbour’s house,” he said.
Tulsi Adhikari of Khudunabari-1 said his family is likely to face food shortage as their paddy in 16 katthas of land has been inundated. According to lawmaker Prem Giri, the floods have destroyed 80 houses and posed a serious threat to over 500 houses in Khudunabari.
He said rescue teams have been mobilised in the area in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Irrigation.
Meanwhile, a team of officials led by Chief District Officer Tej Prasad Paudel inspected the flood-hit areas on Wednesday. Irrigation Department chief Madhav Regmi said a team from the People’s Embankment Programme has been deployed with two excavators to control the floods.
Police said Biring, Rautwa, Mechi, Mawa, Mala rivers have inundated around 400 houses at various villages in the district and that around 100 families have been displaced. According to Superintendent of Police Rabindranath Regmi, floods in the Kankai river have inundated around 300 houses at Taghandubba-9 and Sharanamati-8. He said the Mechi river has affected 20 houses at Mechinagar-10.
In Morang, the flood-damaged Bakraha embankment in Madhumalla is yet to be repaired due to a dispute among locals and rising level of water. Floods from the river have inundated Karseni village. Flood-displaced Yam Bahadur Bohora said they are facing the shortage of foodstuffs.
Morang Chief District Officer Ganeshraj Karki said they are using excavators to control the floods. Officials have warned that the floods may enter settlements as far as Leti, Govindapur, and Bardanga. The Agriculture Development Office said the floods have destroyed properties worth Rs 3 million.
(With inputs from local correspondents)