A team of security personnel mobilised to channelise water from a dam in Naugad Rural Municipality failed to complete the work.

Flood and landslide debris carried by Naugad river, Khar and other rivulets have formed a dam in the Dovan area of Naugad Rural Municipality since July 8, putting nearby settlements at risk of floods.

On Sunday, three days after the dam formation, the team of security personnel had reached Naugad to clear the debris and open the dam.

“But they returned to the district headquarters after failing to open the dam. The water level in the dam had dipped by Thursday but then it began raining again on Friday. Now the water level has increased,” said Prem Singh Thagunna, a resident of Khar. “People living near riverbanks such as Dhuligada and Dethala among other areas are at risk of flooding.”

A settlement of around 18 to 20 households living near the area where the dam has formed is at risk of inundation.

“Our settlement is at risk of being swept away by the dam water,” said Chandrawati Thagunna, a resident of Ward No. 3 in the rural municipality.

Since Monday, a joint team of security personnel from Nepal Army, District Police Office and Armed Police Office has made continuous efforts to channelise water from the 100 metre-wide and 400 metre-long dam. However, they have been unable to open up the dam completely.

According to Prem Singh Thagunna, a resident of Khar, authorities have been unable to mobilise dozers to open the dam since the roads leading to the area have been blocked by landslides

“The security personnel used available resources to break the dam but were unsuccessful,” said Thagunna.

According to the District Police Office in Darchula, the security personnel were able to open 60 metres of the 400 metre-long dam.

“One side of the dam has been opened now. This has minimised the risk of flooding in downstream settlements,” said Manohar Prasad Bhatta, deputy superintendent of police in Darchula.

However, Thagunna said four families from Naugad-3 have been displaced by the dam.

“They are taking shelter at their relatives’ houses. Other 18 to 20 families are still at risk of inundation,” he said.