Severe floods and landslides wreak havoc across Nepal’s Gandaki Province
Incessant heavy rainfall battering Nepal's Gandaki Province since Tuesday, June 15, 2021, resulted in damaging floods and landslides in which at least 7 people lost their lives. At least 19 others are still missing as of Thursday, June 17.
Heavy monsoon rains began Tuesday, with the areas of the Sindhupalchok District the worst hit. Many residential building complexes were damaged in Helambu and Melamchi.
According to chief district officer Bishnu Lamichhane, the complete assessment of damage is yet to be finalized, but reports have shown so far that flooding submerged 30 houses in Talgaun, 48 in Chame, and 15 in Dharapani, partially damaging or destroying them.
Seven people were killed in floods and landslides. The bodies of the victims, who went missing on Tuesday, were retrieved Wednesday morning. At least 19 others are still missing.
The victims were working in Melamchi trout farm, Sindhupalchok chief district officer Arun Kumar Pokharel told the media.
#WATCH | Nepal: Flash floods wreak havoc in Sindhupalchok. At least 7 deaths reported so far, several missing.
As per officials, about 200 houses in Melamchi town have been partially or completely damaged.
(16.06.2021) pic.twitter.com/Al0xonZyfH
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2021
Over 50 people are missing in the Melamchi and Indrawati rivers' flooding. The floods have also caused damages to the dam in Melamchi drinking water project, Timbu Bazaar, Chanaute Bazaar, Talamarang Bazaar and Melamchi Bazar. pic.twitter.com/8Nd4PuNiBe
— Dorje Dolma lama (@DolmaLama444) June 16, 2021
After surviving the 2015 #earthquake, wildfires and the pandemic, #Melamchi is hit by deadly #flood.https://t.co/hPPoU6kVCs
Photos: @MachamasiAmit pic.twitter.com/NCFThZtNvR— Nepali Times (@NepaliTimes) June 16, 2021
Nepal: Flash floods have wreaked havoc in Sindhupalchok, killing at least 7 people & leaving many others missing.
Melamchi is buried in a thick layer of mud & water. Yesterday, about 200 residences in the town were partially or fully damaged, as per officials.
(Pic: ANI) pic.twitter.com/UDEWP3Brtb
— Prasar Bharati News Services पी.बी.एन.एस. (@PBNS_India) June 17, 2021
Seven people have died and massive settlements were damaged after the water level of the Melamchi river entered the Melamchi area in Sindhupalchok district, Nepal. epa / @Narendraphoto#flood #Nepal #Melamchi #epaphotos #visualizingtheworld pic.twitter.com/bPOZCPi0zM
— european pressphoto agency (@epaphotos) June 16, 2021
Houses submerged in flood waters in Sindhupalchok, some 70 km NE of Kathmandu in Nepal today, after heavy monsoon rains caused the Melamchi River to overflow. pic.twitter.com/CC40v0d4GA
— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) June 16, 2021
“The devastating monsoon flood in Sindhupalchok district has left hundreds of people displaced, & seven missing with intermittent electricity and phone services. NRCS Sindhupalchok District Chapter has mobilized volunteers in the affected area and providing urgent relief items”. pic.twitter.com/FaaEWPiQyh
— Nepal Red Cross Society (@NepalRedCross) June 16, 2021
The government has deployed the army to conduct rescue missions for people trapped in flooded houses, he added.
Rudra Prasad Dulal, Ward Chair of Sindhupalchok, told ANI that the flooding incident could be the result of a glacial outburst near Tibetan territory.
"The reason behind this flash flood is attributed to heavy rainfall in upper lying areas. Shaken by the 2072 (Nepali date of 2015 earthquake) earthquake, creeks on the inner areas of the hills are suspected to be swept by large masses of ice and muds contained by it. We have suspected it to be a reason for flooding," he explained.
This year's monsoon season in Nepal started on June 12.
Featured image credit: Nepal Red Cross Society
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