Kathmandu, 17 March: A severe windstorm that swept through various locations in Sindhuli district on Monday evening has disrupted normal life.
The sudden, high-velocity storm has caused significant damage, including ripping off roofs of school buildings and over a dozen houses and cattle sheds. It has also destroyed farmers’ crops, vegetables, and fruits.
According to locals, life has been further impacted as electricity services were disrupted in various parts of the district. Power supply has been affected in most areas of the district, including Ghyanglekh, Sunkoshi, Golanjor, Phikkal, Tinpatan, and Marin Rural Municipalities, after the windstorm damaged power infrastructure.
According to Som Prasad Baral, Chairperson of Ward No. 1 of Golanjor Rural Municipality, the roof of the building of Jukepani Primary School in that ward was completely blown off, causing damage.
He informed that in villages like Jukepani, Sarautar, Chyakutar, Dhansar, and Birta, the windstorm has damaged nine houses so far by blowing off their roofs.
He said, “Due to the electricity service being disrupted since the windstorm, everyone’s phones are switched off and we haven’t been able to contact everyone. Details of the damage are still being received. The windstorm has caused widespread damage.”
Lekhnath Dahal, former Member of Parliament from Sindhuli Constituency No. 2, has demanded through social media that the Government of Nepal immediately initiate rescue, relief, and reconstruction processes, stating that the sudden windstorm last night has caused unimaginable damage in all municipalities of Sindhuli. He has instructed the entire Nepal Communist Party cadre to engage in the rescue, relief, and reconstruction processes.
In Rajaya, also in Golanjor Rural Municipality-2, the windstorm blew off the roofs of five houses. Ward Chairperson Daulat Karki informed that out of 14 houses in Rajaya, five were damaged by the windstorm.
Rural Municipality Chairperson Karnabahadur Thapa Magar said that information has been received that after the windstorm in Saluke, Tinpatan Rural Municipality-9, a house and cattle shed belonging to a person (Pahadi surname) were completely gutted by fire.
He said, “The windstorm has caused a lot of damage in the municipality. Due to the power outage, many people’s phones aren’t working, so the full details of the damage haven’t come in yet.” He informed that windowpanes of the rural municipality building and the Ward No. 4 office building were shattered.
Meanwhile, the District Police Office stated that there has been no human casualty from the windstorm in the district. Deputy Superintendent of Police Surya Prakash Subedi said no individual has yet filed an application with details of the damage.
According to the Sindhuli Distribution Center of the Nepal Electricity Authority, following the power outage, NEA technicians and staff have been deployed in the field since night to restore service. Repair work on damaged poles, wires, and other structures is ongoing rapidly.
Engineer Keshab Khatri from the Sindhuli Distribution Service Center said repair work has been expedited and the goal is to restore electricity service soon. According to him, the windstorm has caused damage in many places, including snapped wires, fallen poles, and burnt transformers. Power services remain disrupted in municipalities including Ghyanglekh, Sunkoshi, Golanjor, Phikkal, Tinpatan, and Marin.
