Lumbini Province
Three children dead, one injured in landslide in Arghakhanchi
Heavy rainfall in Panchthar district disrupts transportation along the Panchthar section of Tamor corridor and Mechi Highway on Tuesday.Birendra KC & Laxmi Gautam
Three children of the same family died after being buried under a landslide early on Tuesday in ward 1 of the Panini Rural Municipality in Arghakhanchi. The children were aged 12, 11 and 10 years, according to Kamal Prasad Pokharel, ward 1 chairman of the rural municipality.
Another 14-year-old, who sustained serious injuries, was rushed to Palpa for treatment, said Pokharel.
All four children were buried in a landslide that swept away their house. They were rescued by the locals and police personnel, said Police Inspector Mukunda Rijal.
Meanwhile in Panchthar in Koshi Province, floods and landslides have disrupted transportation along the Panchthar section of Tamor corridor and Mechi Highway.
The rain-swollen Nawakhola river that flows along the border of Panchthar and Dhankuta districts swept away a tipper truck loaded with diesel barrels. Around 6,000 litres of diesel spilled into the stream, said police. Tipper driver Amrit Shrestha escaped unhurt.
According to Police Inspector Diwas Kunwar, the water level in the Nawakhola River increased significantly as it has been raining heavily in the area since Monday evening. “Tamor corridor, Mechi Highway and almost all the rural roads in Panchthar have been disrupted due to the floods and landslides,” said Kunwar.
The flooded Hewakhola had swept away a bridge on June 17 disrupting the Mechi Highway. The bridge has yet to be restored.
Similarly, the Phidim-Taplejung road section of the Mechi Highway has been blocked again due to the rise in the water level in the Hewa river. The traffic had resumed on Monday after a diversion was constructed over the river.
A flood had swept away the bridge over the river on June 18.
Two weeks ago, more than 300 people from Yangwarak, Phalelung, Hilihang and Phidim in the district were displaced due to floods and landslides.