All News

The lives of the locals have become challenging after the road was washed away by flooding in the Erkhuwa River in Salpasilicho Rural Municipality. After the main road was destroyed by the flood, the biggest challenges were operating ambulances and children’s difficulties in reaching school. The flood on July 31 washed away 20 kilometers of roads from Gothebajar through Nagdaha, along with various infrastructures in Dovane, Osepla, and Khamdak, making life difficult for the locals.

The flood has damaged the Gaudeni Bridge in Salpasilicho Rural Municipality-1, the Lower Erkhuwa Hydropower Project in Ward-3, and the bridges in Ward-5 and Ward-6 of Dovane Fedi Road and Bhamala Dadhagaun. The municipality reported there have been traffic problems after the flood damaged the under-construction Yaksa Nagdaha Motorway Bridge in Salpasilicho Rural Municipality-4. Most families in Salpasilicho Rural Municipality-6 have been displaced due to the flood. According to the ward office, efforts to collect data on the displaced families are ongoing. By the end of July, six families were displaced in Salpasilicho Rural Municipality-4, and one family each in Ward-3 and Ward-5.

Anish Kafle, the Chief Administrative Officer, stated that the flood caused significant damage to various structures, including roads. Many structures have been damaged due to the recent flood, particularly roads and bridges, leading to significant hardships for residents. The movement and transportation of food have been affected. The flood caused substantial damage, estimated at Rs 5,00,00,000. Gajendra Rai, a resident, emphasized that the government should prioritize rebuilding and repairing structures damaged by the floods and expediting their restoration. He expressed that life in rural areas is increasingly challenging due to road blockages caused by the floods. The flood has washed away roads, bridges, and narrow pathways, causing difficulties for the children in commuting to and from school. It remains uncertain when they will be able to return to school. It is crucial to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to this issue.

Likewise, Dilip Rai, a resident, reported that the damage to roads and bridges has caused significant disruptions in food transportation, especially with traffic being halted. All roads leading out of the Rural Municipality have been closed, and the situation is so severe that even walking has become difficult. Additionally, in Salpasilicho Rural Municipality-6, the repair work for the electricity service, which has been interrupted for three weeks due to the flood, has yet to be completed. Chairperson Daulat Kulung of the Rural Municipality stated that all three main roads connecting Bhojpur headquarters and external districts, including the central post of the Rural Municipality, have been closed in flood-affected areas. He noted that it is not feasible to rebuild the damaged structures within the Rural Municipality’s budget, as an additional estimated Rs 10,000,000 will be required for the repair and reconstruction of the severely damaged main structures. Chairperson Kulung stated that they are taking necessary steps to address the budget issue by planning a meeting with the executive and requesting funds from the central and state governments for the reconstruction of the main structures. He mentioned that the Rural Municipality is taking initiatives to improve the roads and make life easier for residents. Furthermore, it is challenging to restore all the roads simultaneously, as they have been damaged in many areas.

Ganesh Bista