Pyuthan, July 5
Rains continuing for four days have caused damage in parts of Pyuthan district. Landslides have killed eight people in Rajbada and Punja village development committees.
A rain-swollen Jhimruk River, which witnessed worst flooding in 13 years, has caused inundation in different parts of the district. Meanwhile, police and locals rescued seven workers, who were marooned on a hillock while trying to protect themselves from a swollen Jhimruk, after three hours. The workers, who were building an aqueduct in Baraula, had fled to safety in the wake of flooding in the river.
Floods have caused inundation in Thulabesi and swept away logs kept for seasoning at Machhi Dhad. People of Bagdula Bazaar are fearing for the worst as the river has started gushing into the bazaar.
Floods have swept away three suspension bridges in Gunchhyang, Korcheghat and Ghorsang. A number of bridges are at risk.
Jhimruk has been witnessing worst flooding in 13 years.
At 4 am on Tuesday, discharge in the river was at 644.9 cubic metre/sec, while at 2 am, the discharge was at 79.7 cubic metre/sec and 150 cubic metre/sec at 2 am and 3 am.
Bhoj Bahadur Basnet of the Jhimruk hydropower project said the river had witnessed discharge of 834.36 cubic metre/sec on August 17, 2003. He said water flow in the river has not returned to norrmal as yet.
The river has inundated swathes of fields, where farmers had just planted paddy. This has thrown cold water on the farmers expecting a bountiful harvest this time around.
