Incessant rain since Wednesday night triggered flooding in Taplejung’s Siswa River, washing away a bridge and impacting residents of Phaktanglung Rural Municipality.
“Thankfully, there haven’t been any injuries reported,” said Deuprasad Limbu, ward president of Phaktanglung Rural Municipality-5. “However, the flood swept away our village’s wooden bridge, which was used by cars and motorcycles.”
President Limbu also reported that the flooding in the Siswa River caused a temporary blockage in the Tamor River.
“There’s no immediate danger upstream,” Limbu assured. “While there’s some concern due to the blockage in Tamor, there’s a dam built there. The water level has receded slightly and will continue to go down.”
Limbu said the bridge was destroyed around 6:30 am, creating challenges for students who rely on it to cross the river. “The nearest suspension bridge is a half-hour walk away,” he explained.
Rabindra Prasad Acharya, Head of the District Administration Office in Taplejung, confirmed that the blockage in the Tamor River has cleared.
“A police team was deployed as soon as we received reports of the blockage,” Acharya stated. “While the blockage has been significantly removed, we urge caution in low-lying areas.”