Panchthar. Four families have been displaced after a landslide triggered by incessant rainfall swept away their houses. One family has been shifted to a safer place after the landslide put their house at risk.

The families of Mohanlal Khawas and Kabir Khawas of Yangbarak-1, Lambrakhola and Ganga Prasad Begha of Kopche have been displaced after the landslide swept away their houses. Seven relatives of Mohanlal and Kabir’s family are staying in the house of Shanta Khawas. Ganga Prasad’s 6-member family is staying at his elder brother Durga Begha’s house. Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Anish Kumar Karna, informed that 6 members of the family have been displaced after the house of Bhagiman Begha of the same place was put at high risk of landslide.

Houses of Balananda Begha and Maitaraj Begha of Kopchetole, Rabin Rai, Ram Kumar Rai, Rana Bahadur Rai, Man Kumari Gurung and Dambar Bahadur Gurung, Ratnaman Rai, Lachhuman Rai, Rajesh Rai, Kamal Bahadur Rai and Sher Bahadur Rai of Ekrate Tole and Yam Magar, Purna Kumar Magar and Sujan Magar of Kholaghari Magardanda are at risk of floods and landslides.

The flood has caused damages to the suspension bridge that connects Lamitar to Chamlingdanda and the suspension bridge at Yangbarak-2, Dobhane. The flood has swept away two under-construction bridges. The flood has swept away a 41-feet long bridge over Mewa River at Dobhane of Yangbarak rural municipality-2 in Panchthar district along the Pushpalal (Mid-hills) Highway. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Karna said vehicular movement has come to a complete halt as the under-construction bridge, road and diversion have been washed away.

The flood has also swept away the structures of the under-construction Limbuni bridge over the Tamor River at the border of Hilihang rural municipality of Panchthar and Aathrai Triveni rural municipality of Taplejung along the Tamor Corridor road. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Karna further informed that 350 tons of steel trust, oxygen gas cylinder, electric gun, iron pipe and other materials of the bridge being constructed by Yakthunghang Construction Service Pvt Ltd were washed away by the flood. The Pushpalal (mid-hills) highway has been completely obstructed due to landslides at Oyam Bazaar and Rijal cliff sections.

Damage to hydropower projects

Floods and landslides have caused damages to the Harihridulay Mewakhola Hydropower Project located in Yangbarak-2, Mewakhola. The wall of the dam area of the Inawakhola Hydropower Project located at the Panchthar-Taplejung border has been damaged. Similarly, the Arun Kabeli Hydropower Project located on the Panchthar-Taplejung border has also been damaged.

Similarly, the flood also damaged the cardamom orchards and cultivable land of Lal Bahadur Mabo, Laxman Mabo, Yogendra Mabo and Chhabilal Pokharel at Sigewa of Yangbarak-4. The floods and landslides have damaged Tikarame, Dalledhunga and Shigewa drinking water projects, Warang Irrigation Project and Mechi Pahadi Drinking Water Project, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Karna.