KATHMANDU, JUN 27 - Continuous rainfall since early Thursday morning has triggered floods in several parts of western Nepal.
A man died at Barpata VDC in Doti district when his house collapsed following heavy rainfall on Thursday night, police said.
In Darchula, rain-swollen Mahakali River swept away three houses at Api Municipality-11. No casualties were reported in the incident. Around one dozen houses in the area are at high risk of flood. Local authorities have advised the people living close to the river to stay alert.
Floods triggered by incessant rain fall inundated around 700 homes in Bardiya district. Police said floodwaters from Mankhola River waterlogged 100 houses in Basgadhi Municipality-5. Nearly 300 houses were also inundated in Kakaura and Dadhawar. In Gulariya, the district headquarters, nearly 15 houses were swamped. A temporary settlement for flood victims in the area was also flooded, affecting 41 families.
Gobinda Jha, the chief of the Nepalgunj-based Karnali Basin Office of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, said Gulariya received 245 mm rainfall on Friday, the highest in the Mid-Western Development Region. Rising water levels in Karnali and Babai rivers have caused panic among the people living along the river banks. According to Bardiya District Disaster Management Committee, the water level in Karnali River rose by about 7.6 metres on Friday.
Once the water level crosses 9 metres mark, there could be a serious flood danger, officials said.
Heavy rainfall also waterlogged various places in Banke district, including Nepalgunj where floodwaters swamped hundreds of houses. Major junctions and roads including BP Chowk, Ganeshpur and Bhrikuti Nagar in the city were waterlogged.
In Kailali, a high alert notice was issued after incessant rain fall increased the risk of flood in several areas of the district. The District Emergency Operation Centre has urged the public to remain safe from potential flash floods and inundation. The centre has also urged the local security agencies and the District Disaster Management Committee to remain on standby.
Continuous rainfall also flooded different parts of Kanchanpur district, including Mahendranagar Bazaar, Bhasi, Aithpur and Banketh.
The water level in Mahakali River, which was measured at 160,000 cusec on Friday morning, rose to 276,000 cusec in the afternoon. Vehicular movement along the Banbasa Bridge was halted after the water level crossed the 100,000 cusec mark, police said.
In Rasuwa district, rainfall triggered landslides in several places, including the Pasang Lhamu Highway. Landslides at Mulkharka and Grang section of the highway was obstructed for several hours on Friday.
Meanwhile, meteorologists have said that with monsoon just beginning, rainfall is expected to intensify in the coming days.
According to senior meteorologist Ram Chandra Karki, rainfall may slow down in western Nepal, but the eastern part of the country is likely to witness heavy rainfall.
(With inputs from our district correspondents)
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