Floods in the Kabeli River triggered by incessant rain since Wednesday evening have caused damage to bridges, houses and animal sheds in Sidingba and Sirijanga rural municipalities of Taplejung district.

According to the locals, a motorable bridge, a suspension bridge and a house along with some animal sheds were swept away by the flood.

Raj Kumar Imwung, a ward member of Surumakhim in Sidingba Rural Municipality-1, the flood destroyed the motorable bridge connecting Surumakhim-Khewang-Yamfudin.

“The pillar side of the bridge, which was inaugurated last May, was destroyed in to the flood,” said Imwung. “The flood has also affected the life of the locals of Yamfudin, Sirijanga Rural Municipality 8.”

Mankamaur Rai, member secretary of Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Management Council, the flood in the Kabeli River has destroyed the house of one Jagat Bahadur Rai while Kanchenjunga Secondary School, Yamfudin Police Station, Kanchenjunga Conservation Area and a health post are at risk.

“The locals have been shifting the school equipment to a safer place,” said Rai. “Although there was normal rain in the area on Thursday evening, the flood that occurred in the river at 10 pm caused extensive damage.”

The flood also swept away an animal shed owned by one Dil Bahadur Magar and several houses in the area are at risk of the flood.

Likewise, the warehouse of Kabeli Hydro Power has also sustained damage as several pieces of machinery, and goods stored in godowns and crushers were also swept in the flood.

A suspension bridge at Khewang has also sustained damage preventing the movement of people from Yamfudin.

Bidur Gurung, Chairman of the School Management Committee of the Bal Kalyan Secondary School, informed that schools in Surumakhim in Sidingba have been closed until Sunday due to the flooding.