Most of the areas in the southeastern part of Kailali district are at a risk of being inundated, following the incessant rainfall that the country has been receiving since Thursday.

Locals said that the waters of rivers Kandra, Kanda, Bandra and Mohana could enter surrounding settlements, thereby risking the lives of the people who reside along the riverbanks in Bhajani, Kailali and Janaki municipalities.

Hemanta Hamal, a local of Lalbojhi in Bhajani-5, said more than 100 houses in ward no 5 of Bhajani are under threat of being swept away by the floodwaters of the Kandra River. “The river has already eroded farmlands of so many,” he said, adding that a majority of the settlements of Bhajani will be flooded if the rainfall continues.

People of Bhajani-3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 said they have been spending many sleepless nights because of the flood threat. Police Inspector of the Area Police Office in Bhajani Rajendra Chand said they have requested locals in the risky areas to stay alert.

Another local Lal Bahadur Saud of Lalbojhi said many down stream settlements of Kailali will be inundated if the rainfall continues at this pace for the next two or three days in Chure. “ If Lalbojhi gets inundated, flood victims can only be rescued by helicopters,” said Saud.

Many of the families living near the settlements of Mohana and Kandra Rivers have already been displaced due to the flood threat. “Each year, people of Lalbojhi Village shift to safer locations. Only families who have no other place to go are left here,” said Bhalamansa Sewakram Chaudhary, of Lalbojhi. Floodwaters in these areas sweep away around a hundred bighas of crops planted in the farmlands and erode around 20 to 30 bighas of farmland every year. Meanwhile, Chief District Officer Baburam Shrestha said the Emergency Information Unit has been measuring the water flow of the rivers. Shrestha said they issued an alert, advising the general public to stay safe in torrential rains.

Senior citizen swept away in Kamala River

SINDHULI: A 65-year-old man of Totara in Dudhauli Municipality-2, Sindhuli, drowned while crossing the flooded Kamala River, on Friday. Police said the body of Malesi Dunuwar, who had gone to graze his cattle in Nipane forest, was found in the river on Saturday. In Nawalparasi, 50-year-old Mal Singh Mahato of Hegauli in Kawasoti Municipality-14 died after being swept away by the Kerunge stream, on Friday. Police said Mahato had gone to the stream to fish.

Landslide obstructs Prithvi Highway

DHADING: Prithvi Highway was obstructed for four hours following a landslide at Galchhi, in Dhading district, on Saturday. Traffic Police In Charge Gajuri Hemraj Ghimire said two loaders and dozers were used to remove the landslide debris from the road section. The road section was blocked for four hours due to a landslide in the same area on Friday.