Jhapa Faces Worst Flood in Years, 3,500 Families Displaced

Continuous rainfall has triggered the largest flood in recent years in Jhapa district, displacing over 12,000 people from 3,500 households, according to local authorities. Major rivers, including the Kanakai, Mai, and Mechi, have swollen beyond danger levels, causing widespread devastation.

On Saturday and Sunday, Jhapa and Ilam received more than 150 millimeters of rain, pushing both the Kanakai Mai and Mechi Rivers above critical levels. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the water level in the Kanakai River reached 5.61 meters, surpassing both the warning level (3.8 meters) and the danger level (4.3 meters).

During the 2017 (2074 BS) floods, Kanakai’s water level peaked at 5.4 meters, but this year’s floods have exceeded that mark, leading to greater destruction, said Lokraj Dhakal, Chairman of the Nepal Red Cross Society, Jhapa Chapter. The Mechi River also reached 114.84 meters, crossing its danger level of 114.3 meters.

“This year’s flooding has been even more devastating than in 2017,” Dhakal said. “Jhapa Rural Municipality and Gaurigunj Rural Municipality have been hit the hardest, with thousands forced to leave their homes.”

In Jhapa Rural Municipality Wards 1, 2, and 7, alone, around 1,500 houses have been submerged, displacing over 6,000 residents. Evacuation efforts are ongoing to move affected people to safer areas.

At Milan settlement in Jhapa-1, 80 houses and 200 people were rescued by the Nepal Army using a helicopter and four boats. “Water is everywhere in Jhapa Rural Municipality. Houses are submerged, and the physical damage is enormous,” Dhakal added.

Flooding also displaced families in:

• Shivasatakshi Municipality: 7 homes in Ward 4, 5 in Ward 5, 27 in Ward 6, and 8 in Ward 7.
• Gaurigunj Rural Municipality: 144 homes in Ward 1.
• Arjundhara Municipality: 1 home in Ward 7.

Similarly, 21 houses in Pindlaghutu and 21 in Aapagachhi (both in Gaurigunj-2) were inundated, along with 31 homes in Sukumbasi settlement of Gauradaha-5, 12 homes in Devibasti of Bhadrapur-5, and 15 homes in Rai Tole of Bhadrapur-5, according to DSP Khagendra Bahadur Khadka of the District Police Office, Jhapa.

One Fatality Confirmed

A man aged around 60–65 years, believed to be of hill origin, was found dead near the Kanakai Mai River in Kotihome, Kanakai Municipality-4. His identity has not yet been confirmed, police said.

Rescue and relief operations are being carried out by the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Army, and Red Cross volunteers in the flood-affected areas.

Riverbank Erosion Causes Losses Worth Over NPR 110 Million

The Kanakai River has eroded about 200 meters of embankment along the right bank of the Hulaki Highway under Gaurigunj Rural Municipality-2, submerging 114 houses in Hokalbari village and damaging around 500 hectares of paddy fields.

According to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, the erosion of 1,500 meters of embankment has caused damages worth approximately NPR 100 million.

Similarly, at Kuwadi in Jhapa Rural Municipality-2, around 200 meters of embankment were washed away, damaging 25 hectares of land and causing an estimated loss of NPR 7.5 million. The Mechi River also destroyed several river spurs, leading to additional losses of around NPR 5 million, the ministry said.

Asian Highway Blocked After Diversion Washed Away

The ongoing East–West Asian Highway construction project has been blocked due to continuous rainfall. The Bhalu River diversion in Shivasatakshi Municipality-10 and a culvert over the Kalikhola stream in Mechinagar Municipality-6 were washed away, halting traffic since Saturday night.

The highway remains obstructed, preventing heavy vehicles from passing throughout Sunday. Authorities are currently working to reroute vehicles through Shivasatakshi-9 and Maidhar.

According to the Kankarbhitta–Laukahi Road Project (Eastern Division), around 30 meters of road section at Bhalu River and 15 meters at Kalikhola have been completely washed out.