Gulmi, July 4
Rains continuing since Friday have the Kaligandaki River swollen, giving rise to fears that the river may cause inundation of Setibeni, a famous pilgrimage site located on the border of Parbat, Syangja and Gulmi districts. Fearing a disaster, locals of Setibeni hardly sleep at night.
Ashok Singh Pandey, a local, says: With water level in the river rising alarmingly, we have no option but to remain awake at night.
Setibeni is quite close to the 144-MW Kaligandaki Hydropower Project, Nepal’s largest hydel so far. It’s dam has put Setibeni in peril. World’s largest Shaligram has gone under water due to flooding in the river.
Locals fear that the river may cause fresh havoc as it has already started causing erosion in parts of Syangja close to the river.
Meanwhile, Parbat Chief District Officer Shambhu Prasad Marasini said he has directed the project to open all floodgates of its dam in the wake of flooding.
He said: We have directed local people to stay alert as they may be in danger if rains do not stop.
