Flooding displaces four families, hydro power plant damaged

Panchthar: Four families in Yangworak Municipality have been displaced after continuous rainfall triggered landslides and flooding in the area.

According to police, one family was relocated to a safer location after a landslide threatened their home. The families of Mohanlal Khawas and Kabir Khawas of Lambkhola, along with Ganga Prasad Begha of Kopche in Yangworak-1, were displaced after their houses were damaged by landslides.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Anish Kumar Karna said six members of Bhagiman Begha’s family were also forced to evacuate after their house became unsafe due to the landslide.

Several other settlements remain at high risk from floods and landslides, including the homes of Balananda Begha and Maitraj Begha of Kopche; Rabin Rai, Ramkumar Rai, Ran Bahadur Rai, Mankumari Gurung and Dambar Bahadur Gurung of Chamlingdanda; Ratnaman Rai, Lachuman Rai, Rajesh Rai, Kamal Bahadur Rai and Sher Bahadur Rai of Ekrate; and Yam Magar, Purnakumar Magar and Sujan Magar of Kholaghari Magardanda.

Floodwaters have also damaged key infrastructure in the municipality. Suspension bridges connecting Lamitar and Chamlingdanda, as well as another bridge near Dobhan in Yangworak-2, sustained damage. Two under-construction bridges were also swept away.

A 41-foot bridge under construction over the Mewa Khola in Yangworak-2 Dobhan along the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway was washed away by the flood, completely disrupting traffic in the area, DSP Karna said.

Floods and landslides have additionally damaged the Harirhudulaya Mevakhola Hydropower Project in Yangworak-2 Mevakhola. The dam wall of the Iwakhola Hydropower Project and the Arun Kabeli Hydropower Project, located near the Taplejung border, have also sustained damage.