Flood waters enter Santi Niketan School in Barahisthan as the swollen Hanumante River rampages in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur on Saturday, July 6, 2024. (Photo: RSS)
The flood in the Hanumante River in Bhaktapur triggered by a heavy rainfall continuing for the past 14 hours has reached above the surface and started entering the slums.
Due to heavy rains, the coastal areas of the river have been flooded, and areas like Hanuman Ghat in Bhaktapur, Ram Mandir in Suryabinayak, Shanti Niketan Secondary School in Barahisthan and riverside settlements have been inundated.
Every year due to heavy rains, the Hanumante River inundates Ram Mandir of Bhaktapur Municipality, Barahi area to Radheradhe of Madhyapurthimi area on the banks of the Hanumante River, Balkot of Suryabinayak, Chardobato, Sukumbasi Basti located at Jadibuti on the banks of the Manohara River. Meanwhile, the residents of the area have been urged to be alert and safe.
Rain Measuring Center and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology have asked people to be on high alert as there is a risk of flooding in the river coastal areas.
Meanwhile, Chief District Officer (CDO) of Bhaktapur, Roshni Kumari Shrestha, informed that the administration has put the security agencies, all four municipalities, and the Nepal Red Cross Society on high alert to reduce the damage that may occur due to floods, landslides, and inundation.
Shrestha said that search and rescue teams and necessary relief materials have been put on standby from the security to the public level through the district-based disaster management committee.
She said that if there is a risk of flood or landslide in any place, the team will immediately reach the incident site for rescue. Residents of areas prone to floods and landslides have been urged to exercise caution.
After identifying the high-risk areas of floods and landslides in Bhaktapur, the Nepali Army is kept on standby for immediate search and rescue. Mohan Kumar Thapa, Battalion Commander of Indra Box Battalion, Suryavinayak in Bhaktapur, said that he would reach the site as soon as there is any news about the risk of floods and landslides.
About 650 houses on the banks of the Hanumante River, the Manohara River in Bhaktapur Municipality are at risk of flooding. Some areas of Changunarayan, Suryabinayak are said to be at high risk of landslides.
