Property worth Rs 500 million destroyed in floods and landslides in eastern Nepal

Property worth around Rs 500 million have been destroyed in floods and landslides in eastern Nepal. Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management Prakash Jwala informed today's meeting of the House of Representatives about the matter. "Heavy floods and landslides triggered by rainfall in Taplejung, Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha and Panchthar have caused huge losses. Some people have lost their lives while others have gone missing in the disaster. I personally and on behalf of the government want to offer condolences to the victims," he said. Rescue efforts and relief distribution have been sped up, he said, adding that Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel, government employees have been deployed to the incident sites for rescue efforts and relief distribution. "Taplejung has been cut off from other districts after the flood swept away a bridge over the Huwa river. Electricity has also been disrupted. Five meters of road along the Arun corridor has been damaged," he said. The Mid-Hill Highway has been damaged at some places, he said.

Sankhuwasabha flood: 2 rescued, 15 still missing

Two hydropower project workers, who were reported to have been swept away by the flooded Hewa River in Sankhuwasabha district, have been rescued. They were rescued in a severe condition. Tikaram Chaudhary (24) and Deepak Raj Tharu of Bardiya Municipality-4 from the Lumbini Province were among those 17 workers from the Super Hewakhola Hydropower Project who had gone missing in the flood last night, said DSP and Chief of District Police Office, Sankhuwasabha, Narendra Godar. Remaining 15 workers are still missing. The two have been receiving treatment at the Chainpur Community Hospital since their rescue. The flood triggered by incessant rainfall swept away seven houses along the river bank. Police said that the flood has largely damaged the Super Hewa Hydropower Project based in Chainpur-4. It caused significant damages to the under-construction motorable bridge connecting Panchkhapan and Chainpur. A joint security squad from the Area Police Office Chainpur and the Armed Police Force is searching for the missing people.    

Gold price increases by Rs 200 per tola on Sunday

The price of gold has increased by Rs 200 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 112, 100 per tola today. The gold was traded at Rs 111, 800 per tola on Friday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 111, 450 per tola. It was traded at Rs 111, 250 per tola. Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,445 per tola today.

Farmers stage protest by throwing tomatoes at Kalimati market (With photos)

Farmers on Sunday staged a protest at the Kalimati Vegetable and Fruits Market, the country's largest vegetable market, by throwing tomatoes, arguing that the Nepali vegetables have not been getting a fair price. They threw the tomatoes saying that locally grown vegetables have not been getting a reasonable price due to Indian vegetables. They accused the government of being a mute spectator to the problems like not getting fertilizers and seeds among others on time.

Koshi Province floods: PM directs for search, rescue, relief operations

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed the concerned agencies to work proactively to search those missing in the floods and carry out rescue and relief operations to the affected communities in the eastern hilly districts. The PM has appealed to the civilians, security bodies and government employees to unite for the rescue operations of the flood-hit communities. PM Dahal has also expressed deep sorrow over the demise of people and damages to the property. Several people have gone missing in the floods and landslides in Sankhuwasabha and Panchthar districts. Likewise, vehicular movement along the Mechi Highway has come to a halt following the disaster.  

1 killed, 17 missing in Sankhuwasabha flood

A person died while 17 persons working at a hydropower project have gone missing after being swept away by flooded Hewa river in Sankhuwasabha district. The District Police Office, Sankhuwasabha said that 17 persons have been missing after the flood damaged the under construction Super Hewa Hydropower at Dobhane in Chainpur-4. Police said that they found a body on the bank of Hewa river at Panchkhapan Municipality-5. DSP Birendra Godar said that the identity of the deceased is yet to be established. Locals said that the flood in the river also swept away seven houses on the bank of river and also washed away a motorable bridge connecting Panchkhapan and Chainapur.    

Five missing in Panchthar flood, Mechi Highway disrupted

At least five persons have gone missing in the flood at Hewakhola following a heavy rainfall in Panchthar district since last night. The missing persons have been identified as Dil Kumar Tamang of Hilihang Rural Municipality-7 and Sanjog Lowa of Phidim Municipality-10, workers of Hewakhola Hydropower Project-I. Likewise, Ashish Majhi and Alisha Majhi of Phidim have also gone missing in the flood. The Hewakhola bridge linking Phidim-4 and Hilihang-7 along the Mechi Highway has also been washed away, completely disrupting the vehicular movement along the highway, according to DSP Hari Khatiwada. Similarly, the flood also washed a belly bridge along the Tamor corridor. Police said that the flood destroyed a motorable bridge in Phalelung Rural Municipality-3.

Four persons missing in Taplejung landslides

Four persons including three of a single family have gone missing in separate incidents of landslide in Mehel Village of Sidingwa Rural Municipality, Taplejung, following a heavy rain since last night. Kamal Kadariya, a local resident, said that Bhagimaya Budhathoki, her daughter-in-law Sandhya and Sandhya's son Prajwal have been missing after a landslide buried their house. Likewise, Bharat Tamang has gone missing in a separate landslide in the same village. Tamang went missing in the landslip while returning after shifting his parents to a safe zone from their house, which is on the bank of a river. Vice-Chairperson of Sidingwa Rural Municipality Bandana Kadariya said that a team of police personnel is heading to the incident area from Sablakhu Police Post. Similarly, the landslide washed away the house of Raj Kumar Gautam at Mehel while three houses are at risk of landslide. Similarly, the landslide completely destroyed the building of the Mehal Health Post. Sidingwa and Sirijungha area in the district have been receiving continuous rain since last night. The landslides at different places have disrupted several road networks in the village and the power supply has also been disrupted at Yamphudin, Khewang, Mehel, Surumkhim, Angkhop and other villages. Likewise, Dovanbazaar is at high risk of inundation while some houses in the Dovanbazaar have been damaged. The Chaitanya Budhathoki (a local teacher in the village) said that some houses have been inundated in the swollen Ingwakhola river. The flood has also caused damage to the Ingwakhola Hydropower Project. Details of the disaster in the district are awaited.