KATHMANDU, July 22: Moderate to heavy rain has been forecast throughout the country for the next three days as monsoon trough is presently based in the southern region of Nepal.

According to meteorologist Raju Pradhananga of Department of Hydrology and Metrology, the monsoon trough frequently moves southward and northward and brings heavy rainfall when it is stationary.

The monsoon trough which had shifted toward the south from Nepal some days back, again moved up to Nepal on Monday, increasing the chances of moderate to heavy rainfall in almost all parts of the country till Wednesday.

With the possibility of widespread rain, precipitation is likely to occur in hilly regions and rises in waters level in the rivers flowing across the Chure and hills.

On such conditions, air and transportation services might get disrupted.

Rainfall measuring 50 to 100 millimeters is termed as the heavy rainfall while it is measured as the very heavy rainfall when it exceeds 100 mm.

This year, the maximum rain in the Kathmandu Valley was measured on July 13.

The Valley witnessed the 104 mm rain on that day.

Flashfloods are predicted from some small rivers in the Tarai and hilly region on Tuesday and Wednesday as the level of waters in the Kankai, Kamala and Bagmati rivers and some tributaries are likely to go up in this period.

People residing in the settlements near banks of such rivers are requested to remain alert and take preparedness and response if necessary.

Tonight, generally to totally cloudy condition will prevail in the hilly and central regions and partially cloudy weather over the western region.

There are chances of rainfall in almost all parts of eastern and central regions and at some places of the western region, Department said. RSS

KATHMANDU, July 18: About 452 thousand people from 90 thousand families have been affected due to flood, landslide and inundation triggered by monsoon rain in various districts of the country.

Similarly, 40 thousand houses have been damaged by the disaster, the preliminary estimates of the humanitarian organization, Nepal Red Cross Society, shows.

The NRCS collected primary data from its units in the most affected districts. NRCS’ Disaster Management Director, Mona Aryal said the Society’s trained volunteers are involved in the search and rescue and relief distribution in the disaster-affected districts.

They are also carrying out rapid search, rescue and relief distribution works as well as data collection.

NRCS has mobilized 374 trained volunteers and other volunteers in the affected areas. The Society has distributed tarpaulin sheets to 1,662 families and the complete set of relief materials to 310 families.

According to NRCS, a preliminary rapid survey is on in Siraha, Saptari, Rautahat, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Morang and Dhanusha districts of State 2.

One natural disaster response expert is working in each of these districts. Similarly, information is being disseminated on water purification methods and prevention from snakebite in the affected areas.

The floods and landslides triggered by incessant monsoon rainfall since last week has left 90 people dead and 41 injured while 29 are still missing, according to Home Ministry.  RSS

RAUTAHAT, July 17: Ministers, political leaders and high-ranking government officials have reached the flood-hit areas in Terai region to monitor the devastation caused by the flood and landslides triggered by incessant monsoon rainfall.

At least 78 people lost their lives in floods and landslides across the country, dozens are still missing and about 17,420 people have been relocated, according to Home Ministry. Likewise, 40 have been injured and more than 3300 people have been rescued so far.

Former Prime Minister Madhav Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Upendra Yadav, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Raghubir Mahaseth and Energy Minister Barshaman Pun reached various districts of Province 2 on Wednesday to monitor the havoc caused by monsoon rain.

Likewise, State Minister for Agriculture Ramkumari Chaudhary, Development and Technology Committee Chair Kalyani Khadka and lawmaker Prabhu Sah were also included in the team.

‘CANCELING HOUSE MEETING AT THE TIME OF NATIONAL DISASTER IS WRONG’

KATHMANDU, July 16:  The parliament is under the government’s control and Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara has become the government’s puppet, said Mahendra Yadav, a leader of main opposition party Nepali Congress (NC).

The House of Representatives meeting scheduled to be held on Monday, which was expected to discuss the devastation across the country resulted by the floods and landslides triggered by days of incessant monsoon rainfall which left over 65 dead and thousands displaced, was put off until July 24.

“Postponing the parliament meeting at the time of National disaster is wrong,” said Mahendra Yadav, leader of main opposition party Nepali Congress in a television interview Janata Janna Chahanchan.

The opposition parties NC and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) had registered a motion on the matter of public importance seeking a discussion on the havoc caused by flood and landslides triggered by monsoon rainfall across the country.

However, Speaker Mahara, who according to NC Chief Whip Bal Krishna Khand was positive about the meeting, later adjourned the meeting.

According to Mahara’s press advisor Dilli Malla, the Speakers postponed the meeting to avoid yet another House obstruction. The opposition parties have been obstructing the parliament since July 9 demanding formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate the loss of two lives in police firing in Sarlahi.

Yadav said that the oppositions did not request the Speaker to convene the meeting to obstruct it but to discuss the ways to support the people affected by rain-related disasters.

“We requested the Speaker to call a House meeting to discuss the devastation across the country resulted by monsoon floods and landslides. We showed that we are with the government to support the affected people,” said Yadav.

“We did not want to block the House proceedings. But the Speaker put up a notice announcing the cancelation of the meeting blocking the discussion,” added Yadav.

“The government should have co-operated us. The meeting should not have been deferred for a week when the nation is suffering from natural disasters.”

The Speaker’s decision has also raised questions on his ability to play a neutral role in the parliament yet again. Mahara has faced criticisms for supporting the Nepal Communist Party earlier as well when the ruling party bulldozed the National Medical Education Bill through the parliament despite strong NC protest. Mahara’s ability was also questioned when he did not allow NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba to speak in the parliament prior to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli when the controversial Guthi Bill was registered at the National Assembly.

According to reports, the Speaker canceled the meeting following the direct instruction from the prime minister.

“Mahara is the Speaker of Nepal Communist Party. It is clear that the parliament is under government control,” fumed Yadav.

“Speaker cannot take a party’s side. He should act neutral,” he added.

“But the Speaker has become the government’s puppet here,” he said.

Yadav also urged the government to convene the parliament meeting as soon as possible so that all the political parties and leaders could work together to support the people who are in need.

Yadav also accused the government of failing to help and provide relief to the flood and landslides affected people.

The television interview also witnessed a heated debate between leader Yadav and NCP lawmaker Yagya Raj Sunuwar as Sunuwar was defending the government.

LALITPUR, July 16: Flood triggered by incessant rainfall has affected normal life in southern parts of Lalitpur as transportation has come to a grinding halt in three rural municipalities due to landslide in different areas while all schools have been shut.

Hundreds of houses have been inundated in Lalitpur Metropolis-28 after the flood-fed Karmanasha rivulet entered into human settlement.

Likewise, more than 400 houses located nearby Gwarko Kist Hospital in Lalitpur have been waterlogged, affecting the normal life of 1,200 people, according to Mahalaxmi ward-4 chair Laxman Rokka.

The obstruction to the water flow under the river linking Lalitpur and Mahalaxmi municipality caused inundation in the human settlement, he added.

No human loss has been reported in Godavari municipality but 12 households of ward-7 Devichaur have been rendered displaced due to the landslide.

Locals said the excessive use of dozers in course of the construction of roads along the forest area triggered a bigger loss in south Lalitpur. RSS

SIRAHA, July 16: Four people were killed so far as results of incessant rain in Siraha while one has gone missing.

According to the information given by the District Administration Office, Siraha, five-year-old Priyanka Saha, daughter of Santosh Saha of Mirchaiya municipality-4 and 11-year-old Ragini Kumari Mahato, daughter of local Badri Mahato, drowned in a pothole filled with rainwater on July 14.

The local government provided Rs 20,000 each to the bereaved families to perform death rituals.

Similarly, a school security guard died after he fell into the water pit. The District Police Office Siraha confirmed the death of 65-year-old Sobhit Bahadur Katuwal in the incident.

A woman around in her 30’s was found dead near the Kamala River dam at Paterwa of Siraha municipality-17. Her lifeless body was retrieved as it was lying buried by sand amidst the water.

The body has been kept at the District Hospital, Siraha for post-mortem examinations. Similarly, 15-year-old Bali Saha has gone missing in the flooding at Sukhachaina of Siraha municipality-15.

The boy from Bihar, India had arrived here to meet the family of his aunt (father’s sister).

Police said they are searching for the missing boy.

A 55-year-old man who was swept away by the flooded Kamala River was rescued alive from Jayanagar, India. He, working as a boatman, washed away by the river on July 12.

Incessant rain completely damaged 354 houses at several parts, inflicting partial damages on 2,538 houses in the district. RSS

KATHMANDU, July 14: At least 43 people have lost their lives while 24 others have gone missing in central and eastern regions of the country in flood and landslides triggered by incessant rain since Thursday night, according to Police.

Of them, five were killed in Lalitpur and Bhojpur each, four in Makwanpur, three each in Kathmnadu, Khotang, Okhaldhunga and Kavrepalanchowk, two each in Dhading, Jhapa and Sindhuli and one each in Palpa, Parsa, Ramechhap, Ilam, Sunsari, Bara, Rautahat, Siraha, Dhanusha, Chitwan and Dolpa.

Likewise, 24 are missing while 20 are undergoing treatments in varous hospitals and health centers.

Many villages remain waterlogged with water level up to four feet in Southern parts of Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusha and Siraha. Major highways are completely and partially obstructed due to flood and landslides at various sections. The electricity and landline telephones remain dead in the affected areas.

Similarly, about 2000 individuals have been rescued from different parts of the country.

According to Meteorological Forecasting Division, the rain has shifted from eastern and central region to western and mid-western plains. The government has alerted the residents living in the riverbanks while scores have been evacuated from flood-prone areas in Banke districts.

Security personnel have been mobilized to intensify rescue and search for the missing in the flood and landslide affected areas. According to the Home Ministry, the task of clearing debris of flood and landslide from roads in different areas is underway.

By Raju Bishwakarma

LAHAN, July 13: Numerous areas of Siraha municipality and Kalyanpur municipality in Siraha district have been inundated as the flooded Kamala River breached the levee at several points and entered various settlements.

Over 1,000 population of the affected areas have been shifted to safety.

The construction of ‘anti-flood sluice’ under the Kamala Irrigation Project has remained incomplete and the flood waters found an easy way to hit the river dam and enter into the settlements.

Sarswar, Basbitta and Gamhariyakatti have suffered worst. Chief District Officer Gopal Prasad Adhikari said the waters level in the inundated areas was growing and roads damaged, posing more challenges to undertake rescue efforts.

The District Police Office and other government offices including the District Livestock Office and Nepal Electricity Authority are water logged.

In Lahan municipality, over 100 families have been displaced after the flood waters hit the settlements.

Most of the houses at ward numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 are waterlogged. Eighty families of ward 1 and 2 have been shifted to safer places.

Lahan-based Area Police Office, Divisional Forest Office, Lahan municipality Office, Area Administration Office, Water Resources Office and Soil Conservation Office are largely covered by flood waters.

Water is running through the East-West Highway, causing inconvenience to the peoples and vehicular movement.

Similarly, settlements at the Mirchaiya municipality, Golbazar municipality, Sukhipur municipality and Aurahi rural municipality have come under water.

Security squads have been mobilized for the rescue efforts. People of other vulnerable areas have been urged to remain watchful.

Similarly, until the filing of this report, efforts were going on to rescue six workers hired for the bridge construction project at Siraha-6.

They were caught by the Kamala River flood and the district administration was facing challenges to save them from the danger.

“We were informed last night about the six workers marooned in flood water. High water level in the river had aborted the efforts to rescue them immediately. There is no situation to call a helicopter from Kathmandu either,” the CDO said.

Similarly, the newly constructed bridge over the Khadak River at Bodebarsain municipality-5 in the neighboring Saptari district was swept away by the flood after it collapsed the pillars.

With this, the East -West Postal Highway here has come to a complete standstill, confirmed Area Police Office Bode Barsain.

Settlement at Bode Barsai municipality-5 and the Tharu and Musahar settlements at ward no 7 have been submerged by the flood waters.

Besides, Dhangadhi, Sarswor, Kushmahar, Kachan, Deuri and Khadakpur of Bode Barsain have come under water as the flood from the local Boka River entered the settlements, said municipality mayor Aatesh Singh Yadav.

Electricity supply has been disrupted and the Bode Barsain market cut off following the damage of roadway under the Postal Highway.

KATHMANDU, July 12: At least 21 people have been killed,  eight have been missing and over 3000 people have been relocated from the flood-affected area due to floods and landslides triggered by four days of incessant rainfall in various parts of the country, according to Nepal Police.

Three people lost their lives to flood in Kathmandu and three others in Khotang. Similarly, two each in Jhapa, Kavre, Bhojpur and Okhaldhunga, and one each in Ilam, Ramechhap, Makawanpur, Parsa, Lalitpur, Dhading and Sindhuli districts.

Likewise, eight have gone missing including two in Rautahat, and one each in Makawanpur, Sunsari, Panchthar, Mahottari, Morang and Kathmandu districts.

Those who were killed in the natural disasters were Nilu Yadav, Sharmila Yadav and Kundan Yadav of Kageshwori, Manahara Municipaity-6 in Kathmandu, Rekha Rai, Roman Rai and Rohan Rai in Khotang.

Goma Dangal and Sohani Dangal from Banepa in Kavrepalanchwok, Padam Kumari Sunuwar of Ramechap, Jagat Bahadur Rai and Janak BK from Bhojpur, Suraj Jima of Lalitpur, Nikhil Patel of Parsa, Asmita Tamang of Gajuri, Dhading, Hem Kumari Sunuwar of Sindhuli lost their lives in the incents occurred after incessant rainfall.

The police have rescued about fifty people, according to Superintendent of Police (SP) at the Police Headquarter in Naxal, Ramesh Thapa.

Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchowk, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Rautahat, Parsa, Dhanusha, Chitwan, Udayapur, Paanchthar, Makawanpur, Khotang, Dolakha, Dhankuta, Dhading, Okhaldunga, Bhojpur districts and other places were highly affected by the recent floods.

Various places in Terai were at risk of inundation. The rescue team from Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been mobilized for rescue operation in various hardest hit areas. Ministry of Home Affairs said that all the mechanisms have been activated to expedite rescue operations.

The incessant rain for the past three days has affected the life of people across the country.

Here are some photos that show how the rain and the flood caused by continuous rainfall has affected people and their lives.

Overflowed water enters the office of Chief Minister and Council of Ministers of Province 2. Large parts of Janakpur sub metropolis in Dhanusha have been inundated following incessant rain since Wednesday night. Most of road areas, government offices and private houses sitting on relatively low lands have been left under water. Photo: Ajay Kumar Shah/Rss

Inundated Janakpur Zonal Hospital located at Janakpurdham, capital of Province 2. Incessant rain has inundated most of the areas of the province capital. Large parts of Janakpur sub metropolis in Dhanusha have been inundated following incessant rain since Wednesday night. Most of road areas, government offices and private houses sitting on relatively low lands have been left under water. Photo: Ajay Kumar Shah/Rss

Flooded Bhandare River obstructs vehicular movements along Siddhicharan Highway in Okhaldhunga district. The flooded river has blocked traffic for the past two days causing hundreds of vehicles travelling between the districts like Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Solukhumbu and Kathmandu and some districs of Terai have been stuck midway stranding hundreds of passengers.

Obstructed Durangkharka road section due to landslide caused by rain in Khopashi, Kavrepalanchowk District. Photo: Ram Kumar Prajuli/Rss

Flood obstructs the East-west highway after the continuous rainfall for three days broke the embankment located in Laxmipur of Gadhimai Municipality in Rautahat district. Photo: Uttam Kumar Upadhyay/Rss

People try to cross road submerged by water in Rautahat. Photo: Rautahat Express

Likewise, The Rudrabeni-Bamitaksar road in Gulmi district has been obstructed due to a landslide triggered by incessant rain for three days.

Vehicular movement on the road was halted since last night due to the deposition of landslide debris on the road. The landslide occurred at Daharekhola.

The landslide debris was removed on Thursday using a bulldozer but landslide occurred at the same location again last night, blocking the road. Hundreds of passengers and scores of vehicles are stranded due to the obstruction of one of the busiest road in the district.

Efforts are on to remove the landslide debris and open the road for traffic. More than a dozen rural roads in Gulmi district have been obstructed due to the waterlogged condition following the incessant rain.

Similarly, The Hetauda- Kulekhani Sisneri road section of the Hetauda-Kathmandu highway has been obstructed due to the landslide triggered by incessant rainfall since last night.

The Sisneri police said that the authorities are working to clear the debris and resume vehicular movement but will take some days. The landslides have occurred at Indrasarobar rural municipality 2 and 3 along the road section.

Similarly, Pharping-Kathmandu road section has been obstructed due to landslide occurred at Mahalaxmi rivulet along the road section.

However, Hetauda-Kathmandu road section along the Tribhuvan Highway is in operation, said Makawanpur Traffic Police.

Meanwhile, Gaighat town is under threat after an embankment along the Baruwa river at Triyuga municipality-11 started breaking with the rising water level and water current in the river following incessant rain.

It has been raining continuously for three days in Udayapur district and the overflowing Baruwa river has started washing away a portion of the embankment.

Shivalayatol, Sakelatol and Gaighat market area are at high risk due to this.

The embankment has become old and worn out as it was constructed many years back, and the local government has not constructed a new stronger embankment here, increasing the risk of the river washing away the entire structure.

It is said more than 2,000 houses in these areas are at risk of inundation. Now, efforts are being made at the initiatives of the municipality ward number 11 and the locals to divert the river water away from the embankment by using excavators.