Kathmandu, 16 Ashoj (Oct 2): The floods and landslides that occurred after the incessant rains on Ashoj 11 and 12 have become an example of how natural calamities cause pain and suffering. The ripening paddy of the farmer was destroyed. Vegetables eaten throughout the year were destroyed.
Easily traveled highways were damaged. The settlement was swept away. It flowed slowly. The innocent cattle died. Because of the flood, many people’s investments were destroyed in a moment. There is a popular saying in Nepali society, “Disaster does not come with a trumpet.” But this time, the flood after the incessant rains was even louder than the one that came with the trumpets for the Nepali people. There is no indication when the damaged BP highway at the mouth of festival will be restored. Prithvi and Tribhuvan highways are in the same situation.
Kalimati and Balkhu markets, which are known as the food warehouses of the capital, are not yet to come into regular operation. Due to lack of regular traffic on the highway, hungry passengers are forced to walk without food. Despite the information given by the Department of Water and Meteorology, many innocent citizens have lost their lives. It is clear that it will take many more days to restore the banks of Balkhu, Nakhkhu, Bagmati and Hanumante in Bhaktapur. Due to flood and landslides, according to the preliminary details, the damage is equal to 17 billion rupees. As the details of the damage are being collected, it is clear that it may increase further.
According to Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, 21 districts have been affected by floods and landslides. Especially Kavrepalanchok, Lalitpur, Dhading, Kathmandu, Sindhupalchok, Sindhuli and Makwanpur districts have suffered more damage. Due to floods and landslides that occurred when Kulekhani Reservoir was released, six students studying at the Akhil Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Academy in Batsaladevi high school located in Indrasarovar-3 of Makawanpur were forced to lose their lives at a very young age. Three children from Makawanpur and three from other districts lost their lives due to landslides. The BP highway is facing the most problems due to floods. The settlements along the Roshi River have been destroyed. According to the details so far, there has been damage worth Rs. 520 millions. The flood has damaged five concrete bridges and two belay bridges.
So far, 224 people have died in the recent floods and 24 people are missing. One hundred and fifty-eight people are injured. Chief Secretary Aryal says that 4,331 people who are at high risk have been rescued and sent to a safe place. According to preliminary data, the damage in the agricultural sector is more than six billion rupees. A total of 58,476 hectares of paddy crops have been damaged to the tune of Rs.3.5 billion. 26 thousand two hundred and five livestock of farmers have been damaged.
In terms of physical damage, there has been a loss of Rs.3.55 billion in drinking water structure, Rs.2.52 billion in road infrastructure, Rs.4 billion in energy and Rs.1.35 billion in water resources and irrigation. Of the 37 highways blocked by the flood, nine have been restored. Similarly, 36 hydropower projects under construction have been damaged. According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, nearly 22 kilometers of roads under the road department have been completely damaged due to the landslides that occurred after the incessant rains. There is a preliminary report of damage of Rs 1.55 million to the road, Rs 820 million to the bridge and Rs 200 million to the bailey bridge. According to the Ministry, 42 places of 14 roads have been damaged due to landslides.
Arani Highway, BP Highway, Kanti Highway, Madan Bhandari, Pushpalal Madhyapahari Highway, Mechi Highway, Madan Bhandari Highway and Kaligandaki Corridor have been damaged due to landslides. Sunkoshi bridge, Khurkot, Sindhuretar, Foxingtar bridges have been completely damaged. Inconvenience in traffic operations has arisen due to flooding of Liping bridge under Arani highway, Mai Pokhari road bridge in Ilam. The Bailibridge on the Larcha and Hewa rivers has been swept away by the flood. Sunkoshi bridge, Khurkot, Sindhuretar, Foxingtar bridges are reported to be completely damaged.
Liping bridge under Araniko highway, night bridge of Mai Pokhari road in Ilam has been swept away by flood. Similarly, Beilibridge in Larcha and Hewa rivers has also been swept away by floods. In terms of energy and water resources, there has been a total loss of 4.35 billion rupees. The embankment built to control the river has been damaged to the tune of one billion 162 million. The ‘coffer dam’ under construction at the dam site of the Sunkoshi Marine Diversion Project, which is a project of national pride, is under water. Director General of Water Resources and Irrigation Department Sanjiv Baral informed that the amount of damage is being assessed.
Likewise, the water supply project has been damaged to the tune of three billion 557 million rupees. Flooding has caused problems in small and large projects under the Nepal Water Supply Corporation, Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Limited and the Ministry of Water Supply. Water supply projects in Kavrepalanchok, Bhaktapur and Ramechhap have been damaged. Water supply projects in 66 districts have been damaged. The floods and landslides after the incessant rains have damaged structures such as water pipelines, boring processing centers, and tanks.
The government has mobilized 30,731 security personnel for search and rescue. The government says that the distribution of relief to the families of the citizens who died and went missing in the flood has already started. Preparations have been made to bring roads blocked by landslides into operation with more caution, to open roads blocked by landslides, to install belay bridges, and to bring roads into operation through alternative means such as causeways and diversions based on feasibility. By showing the disaster, the government has made it clear that it will adopt a strict policy to control the artificial shortage of essential commodities, price increase and black market. Reconstruction and restoration work is being done by mobilizing the necessary manpower to regularize the interrupted telephone service and electricity service at various places.
