3 killed as incessant rains grow risks of floods, landslides

Kathmandu, July 14: At least three people have died in separate landslide incidents in Kalikot and Jajarkot as incessant rainfall increased the risk of floods and landslides across the country.

Two people were killed in Sannitriveni Rural Municipality of Kalikot district on Monday after a landslide buried a traditional water mill, while another woman died after a landslide buried a temporary shelter of earthquake survivors in Jajarkot. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) has also forecast flash floods in small rivers over the next three days due to heavy rainfall and asked to remain alert to the people living in the river bank of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur.

According to the department, there is a risk of flooding in small rivers in Panchthar, Ilam, Jhapa, Morang, Saptari, Sunsari, Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Sindhupalchok, Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Lamjung, Tanahun, Makawanpur, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Chitwan, Nawalparasi East and West, Palpa, Kaski, Parbat, Myagdi, Syangja, Kailali and surrounding districts.

David Dhakal, a meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division, said that rainfall is likely to continue intermittently as the country is currently in an active monsoon phase, although the intensity may fluctuate. 

“Rainfall during the monsoon season naturally occurs in phases, with periods of rain and temporary breaks. The current spell of rain is also likely to ease at times, but there remains a possibility of both heavy and light rainfall episodes,” he said.

According to Dhakal, rainfall activity has remained widespread across the country over the past 24 hours, with comparatively higher precipitation recorded around the Chure region. “At present, relatively heavy rainfall appears to have occurred in and around Chitwan and Kaski districts,” the official said. 

He also said that the country is currently experiencing an active monsoon period. The monsoon trough, a key system influencing rainfall patterns, is presently located slightly north of its average position and extends across the Tarai and Chure regions, contributing to increased rainfall activity in the country. Binod Parajul, a hydrologist at DHM, said Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kavrepalanchok and nearby districts are at high risk of sudden floods until Tuesday. 

The DHM has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in many parts of the hilly regions of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces, and at a few places in the hilly areas of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces.

“Although river levels have been rising, no incidents of inundation have been reported so far. None of the monitoring stations in Kathmandu has crossed the warning level yet. This is based on data from Monday evening, though levels could gradually increase,” the official added.

However, cases of debris flow and flooding have mainly been reported in river basins in western Nepal. Similar incidents have also been reported in rivers in Makawanpur district, including the Lalbakaiya River. 

Media reports have also indicated that a truck was swept away by floodwaters, Parajuli said. In Kalikot, our correspondent Prem Simkhada reported that Mandir Saud, 46 and Lal Bahadur Saud, 76, of Dhamigaun in Ward No. 6 of Sannitriveni Rural Municipality died after a landslide buried the water mill at Kaprikhola where they had gone to grind grain.

According to police, the incident occurred at around 1:30 pm when a landslide descended from about 25 metres uphill and buried nearly half of the mill along with the two men. A police team later recovered the bodies from the debris.

Meanwhile, in Jajarkot, our correspondent Janarjan Khatri reported that Jayashila Shah, 60, of Rangsi in Bheri Municipality-2, died after a landslide buried her temporary shelter on Sunday evening.

Police said the landslide occurred at around 8 pm following continuous rainfall. Her daughter Menuka Shah Thapa, 40, and seven-year-old granddaughter Tika Thapa were rescued safely.

The incident has once again highlighted the plight of earthquake survivors in Jajarkot, many of whom continue to live in temporary shelters nearly three years after the devastating earthquake due to delays in reconstruction.

Meanwhile, the Bagmati River, which flows along the border of Sarlahi and Rautahat districts, recorded its highest water level of this year on Monday.

According to the Padheradovan hydrological station at Nunthar, the river's water level reached 3.90 metres at noon before receding to 3.30 metres by 4 pm after rainfall subsided.

Although the river has not yet crossed the danger level, local authorities have urged residents living in southern riverine areas below the Mahendra Highway to remain alert as continued rainfall in Kathmandu and other upstream hilly regions could cause the water level to rise again. Security agencies, including the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police, have been kept on standby for possible flood and inundation response operations.

Residents in southern municipalities, including Barahathawa, Basbariya, Dhankaul, Ramnagar, Balara, Godaita, Bishnu and Kaudena, are increasingly worried as these areas face recurrent flooding and 

riverbank erosion during the monsoon every year.

Meanwhile, very heavy rainfall was recorded in Chitwan district, with the Rampur AWS station receiving 121.2 mm of rain and the Narayani Field Office recording 95.8 mm in the six hours up to 6:30 pm.