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Kanchanpur, June 18: The massive flood in the
Mahakali River triggered by continuous rain for three days has so far swept
away 72 houses in Khalanga, the headquarters of Darchula district.
Of
these houses, 59 belong to the people while 13 are government offices. Two
thousand and five hundred people have been rendered homeless after their homes
were washed away by flood, according to Chiranjivi Adhikari, the Chief District
Officer (CDO) of Darchula district.
Adhikari
said although rainfall has decreased and along with it the flow of water in the
Mahakali River, the river continues to erode the land along its banks. Since
the cutting by the river continues, Adhikari said the damage could increase.
He
said that arrangements have been made to shift the people rendered homeless to
schools and at homes in safer places. According to CDO Adhikari, the flooded
river has caused the heaviest damage at Bangabagad and Galfai in Khalanga
VDC-5.
He
said the powerhouse of the Kalagad Hydropower Project near the district
headquarters has been swept away, leading to disruption of power supply. With
no electricity, the communication services have also been disrupted in the
district headquarters.
Transport
service has also been closed in the district as landslips at different places
have blocked the road. One suspension bridge each at Uku and Dattu VDCs has
been swept away by the flood.
Locals
have alleged that the flooding in the Nepali side in the district was caused
due to the release of excess water by the Indian authorities from the dam of
the Dhauliganga Hydroelectricity Project citing damage to the dam.
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