Massive floods in several rivers continued to wreak havoc in eastern Tarai districts on Sunday, inundating hundreds of houses and displacing thousands of people. An elderly person drowned, while two others went missing in Jhapa. 

Scores of houses were destroyed and paddy planted in vast swathes of land damaged in the water-induced disaster. The security personnel have been mobilised in the affected areas for rescue and relief operations. But the displaced people are deprived of relief materials.

According to District Police Office in Jhapa, Kali Bahadur Limbu, 64, of Goldhap-9 drowned in the floodwaters near his residence. Ekendra Khadka of Gauradaha-5 and D Mardi of Kumarkhod-4 went missing in separate incidents. Khadka was swept away by flooded Geuriya stream, while Mardi drowned as he attempted to collect driftwood in Kankai River.

The floods triggered by incessant rains have left more than 500 houses inundated in different parts of the district, affecting over 5,000 people, according to Nepal Red Cross Society, Jhapa.

Settlements in Mechinagar, Birtamod, Duwagadi, Bhadrapur, Surunga, Damak, Mahabhara, Kumarkhod, Kankai, Gherabari Jalthal among other places have been affected by the floods. The displaced people are taking shelter in public buildings and their relatives’ houses.

Dozens of rivers and rivulets, including Mechi, Paliya, Ninda, Hadiya, Deuniya, Anduwa, Kankai, Biring, Tangting, Kamal, and Ratuwa are flowing well over the danger levels. There is a high risk of embankment breach in the border of Bahundangi and Mechinagar due to the flood in the Ninda stream.

In Saptari, floods in various rivers and rivulets have inundated around 12,000 houses. Jogendra Bhagat, the district chairman of Nepal Red Cross Society, said 1,500 houses were destroyed in the inundation. 

The floods submerged houses in Sakarapura, Koilada, Topa, Mahadeba, Bhagawatpur, Bathanawa, Bhardaha, Portaha, Bairaba, Phattepur, Pakari, Dighawa, Deuri Bharuwa, Hardiya, Pipra Pashchim, Daulapur and various settlements in Rajbiraj.

“My house is submerged in the flood. I don’t know where shall I place my small children and prepare meal,” said Shobha Devi Raya of Sakarapur.

The flood victims in Morang, Sunsari, Saptari and Jhapa urged the government to provide immediate relief.

Meanwhile, Gobargadha VDC, which is surrounded by Saptakoshi River, has been out of contact with the increase in water levels in the river.

Superintendent of Police Bhim Prasad Dhakal said the telephone service in the village has been out of order. “As per the latest information we received, the settlement is safe. We are ready to rescue the villagers using boats if required,” he assured. There are 200 households in the village.

The flood displaced people, mostly children and elderly, have been suffering from various water-borne diseases. Koshi Zonal Hospital in Biratnagar has been overwhelmed with the flow of patients after the floods and inundation, according to Dr Roshan Pokharel there.

(With inputs from our local correspondent)