National
1 dead, 2 missing, 500 homes under water in rain-related disasters
Mudslides displace 41 families in Masta Rural Municipality in Bajhang, and 9 families in Sarikhet of Chaurpati Rural Municipality in Achham.![1 dead, 2 missing, 500 homes under water in rain-related disasters](https://assets-api.kathmandupost.com/thumb.php?src=https://assets-cdn.kathmandupost.com/uploads/source/news/2024/news/Screenshot%202024-07-11%20at%2007.27.20.png&w=900&height=601)
Post Report
There is no respite from floods and landslides caused by monsoon rains in several places in the country on Wednesday as well.
A 22-year-old man was killed after being buried by a landslide in Pokhara on Wednesday. According to the District Police Office in Kaski, 22-year-old Bhim Bahadur Thapa died after a landslide fell on his house in ward 27 of Sahalapata of Pokhara Metropolitan City at around 4am.
Thapa and his 50-year-old mother were asleep when the incident took place. The latter was rescued by security personnel deployed from the Shisuwa Area Police Office, according to Basanta Kumar Sharma, spokesman at the District Police Office, Kaski.
In Tanahun, a 55-year-old man went missing after being swept away by the flooded Seti river in ward 13 of Byas Municipality on Wednesday. According to Superintendent of Police Apil Bohora, Lal Bahadur Thapa fell into the rain-swollen river and went missing from the Chhabdi Dobhan area while attempting to collect driftwood. A search is on to find the victim, said police.
Similarly, as many as 500 houses have been inundated in Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality of Saptari district after the flooded Mahuli River breached its banks and entered settlements.
According to Birendra Majhi, the mayor of the municipality, 500 houses in wards 1, 3, and 4 have been inundated. He said the authorities are working to move the affected families to safety.
Similarly, a flood in the Khanikhola river on Tuesday night damaged the dam of the under-construction Sasa Hydropower Project in ward 7 of Gaurishankar Rural Municipality in Dolakha district.
Police said the flood at midnight on Tuesday damaged and washed away the structures of the 30 MW hydroelectric project. Some vehicles used by the project were also damaged.
Meanwhile, a flood in the Khanikhola washed away a road connecting wards 6 and 7 of the rural municipality, completely obstructing transportation. A house in Charikot, the headquarters, collapsed after heavy rains.
Similarly, mudslides triggered by incessant rain in Masta Rural Municipality of Bajhang district have displaced 230 people from 41 families. Landslides have damaged 20 houses, with 50 others at risk, said Bam Bahadur Bohara, a local resident and former chair of ward 7 of the rural municipality.
“The rain started at 1am, but it began pouring heavily at around 4 am and continued for two hours. We visited each and every household to wake people up and relocated them to safe places,” said Bohara. “Some families are now staying in cattle sheds, while others are sheltering under makeshift tents. Due to landslides in many places, it is unsafe to stay at home,” he said.
In Achham, nine families displaced by landslides at Sarikhet in ward 6 of Chaurpati Rural Municipality on Saturday have yet to return home. A total of 48 members of nine families have been taking shelter in the building of the community health unit.
“A large rock lodged in the landslide is posing a threat to the settlement. The ground in the area has also developed cracks. The displaced people cannot return home until the rock is removed,” said Chief District Officer Shiva Prasad Lamsal.