Sindhupalchak: The Melamchi River flooded again 47 days after the landslide caused by the floods on June 20 in the Bhemathang district. The flood victims of Helambu and Melamchi, who were gradually returning to normalcy, have been displaced again.
Asha Lama of Helambu 1 says we were staying in a hostel without a place to stay, the risk has increased here too, where to stay now? Ninety families like him have been living in tents, tents, and relatives' houses after the landslide on June 20. Saraswati Magar of Helambu complains that it is difficult to live in a tent during the sun and water.
The people of Melamchi Bazaar have the same pain. Some had cleared their homes and shops, but after Saturday's floods, they returned to safety. The floods since Saturday night have washed away 20 houses in Helambu and Melamchi municipalities. The building of Radio Melamchi has also been washed away by the floods. According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajan Adhikari of the District Police Office, 20 houses were washed away and three houses were submerged.
According to him, the houses that were flooded due to the floods on July 20 have been swept away by the floods again last night. Those houses were empty. The flood has washed away the red bridge of Chanaute. According to a local Hasta Pandit, the bridge collapsed at around 8.30 pm. This bridge was the only alternative connecting Melamchi 7 and 8, Panchpokhari 1 and 2, and many wards of Helambu. With the flooding of the bridge, the movement of vehicles in this area has been stopped.
Similarly, a suspension bridge of Gyalthum has been washed away. The flood has also washed away the kitchen of Talamarang Police Post. At present, 40 houses in Gyalthum are at risk. Now there is no bridge left above Melamchi Bazaar, said Helmu Village Municipality Chairperson Nima Galgen Sherpa. He said that the river was flooded with mud and the floods were decreasing and increasing.
Mayor Dambar Aryal informed that vehicles could not reach Helambu from Melamchi due to landslides at various places on the Helambu Highway.
No risk reduction situation: Sherpa
Village Municipality Chairperson Nima Galgen Sherpa, who returned to Kathmandu after monitoring the flood-hit area by helicopter, said there was no immediate risk of landslides.
He said that there was no alternative to relocate the residents of the Melamchi corridor to safer places immediately. The flow from Ledo Bhimthang is continuing. I am trying to find an alternative settlement. In this process, I have already informed the Home Minister about the situation. I will also meet the Prime Minister and inform him, he said. He demanded that the government send experts to investigate the landslide.
A team with experts will be sent to Bhemathang
Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand has directed to send a team of experts to the landslide source Bhemathang to study the floods and landslides in the Melamchi River.
According to Bagmati State Assemblymember Nima Lama, Home Minister Khand has instructed Chief Executive Officer of the National Disaster Management Reduction and Management Authority, Anil Pokharel, to reach the site of the landslide and study the situation there.
Bailey Bridge will be constructed in Chanaute immediately
A bailey bridge will be constructed immediately at the site of Chanaute's Ratopul, which will connect Helambu village municipality with the road network. The bridge was flooded on Sunday morning.
