Seven of a single family killed in landslide, life badly affected in districts

DAILEKH: Seven members of single family were buried in a landslide in Dailekh district caused by torrential rainfall in the district.

According to police, the deceased are Mohan Kumal, his wife Tulsa, sons Ganesh, Khagendra, Nagendra along with daughters Krishna and Gita.

In Kanchanpur, the massive flood in the Mahakali River triggered by continuous rain for three days has so far swept away 72 houses in Khalanga, the headquarters of Darchula district.

Of these houses, 59 belong to the people while 13 are government offices. Two thousand and five hundred people have been rendered homeless after their homes were washed away by flood, according to Chiranjivi Adhikari, the Chief District Officer (CDO) of Darchula district.

Adhikari said although rainfall has decreased and along with it the flow of water in the Mahakali River, the river continues to erode the land along its banks. Since the cutting by the river continues, Adhikari said the damage could increase.

He said that arrangements have been made to shift the people rendered homeless to schools and at homes in safer places. According to CDO Adhikari, the flooded river has caused the heaviest damage at Bangabagad and Galfai in Khalanga VDC-5.

He said the powerhouse of the Kalagad Hydropower Project near the district headquarters has been swept away, leading to disruption of power supply. With no electricity, the communication services have also been disrupted in the district headquarters.

Transport service has also been closed in the district as landslips at different places have blocked the road. One suspension bridge each at Uku and Dattu VDCs has been swept away by the flood.

Locals have alleged that the flooding in the Nepali side in the district was caused due to the release of excess water by the Indian authorities from the dam of the Dhauliganga Hydroelectricity Project citing damage to the dam.

Similarly, over two dozen houses at Simaljala area and Parigaun area in Dadeldhura district have been inundated by the overflowing Mahakali River. The Area Police Office, Jogbuda stated that three families in the area have been displaced.