Sunsari Floods Submerge Over 1,300 Houses; Ilam Landslides Claim 37 Lives

Continuous rainfall has caused widespread flooding and landslides across Sunsari district, submerging over 1,300 houses and leaving hundreds displaced. Several municipalities have been severely affected as floodwaters inundated homes, blocked roads, and disrupted daily life.

According to DSP Yograj Khatri of the District Police Office, Sunsari, the floods have hit Dharan, Itahari, Inaruwa, Barahakshetra, Ramdhuni, and Bhokraha Narsingh municipalities the hardest. Many roads have been blocked due to landslides, forcing authorities to relocate hundreds of residents to safer areas.

The Dharan–Bhedetar and Dharan–Bishnupaduka–Sagurigadhi road sections along the Koshi Highway have been obstructed by landslides. Even the Madhuwan Police Post building was flooded, causing property damage, Khatri added.

In Inaruwa Municipality, around 120 houses in Ward 9 and 70 houses in Ward 10 have been affected. In Jalpapur, nearly 300 homes were submerged, and 60 families have sought refuge with relatives. The flood from Sunsari River entered Marik Tole (Ward 4), inundating 20 homes and Janodaya Basic School, while 20 houses in Gauri Tole (Ward 8) were also submerged.

In Barahakshetra Municipality, around 160 homes were flooded, said Inspector Divas Kunwar of the Mahendranagar Area Police Office. He reported that four families from Pani Tanki area (Ward 7) have taken shelter at neighbors’ homes. Floodwaters from Dovan Khola swept away 45-year-old Nawaraj Uraw, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Similarly, the Sardu River has eroded land near high-tension towers across 33 bighas (about 22 hectares) in Barahakshetra-4.

In Bhokraha Narsingh Rural Municipality-5, approximately 300 houses were submerged. Police rescue teams under an inspector’s command used boats, ropes, and tubes to save people trapped in flooded homes. In Ward 1, 20 homes in Dharamikta Tole were inundated after the Sunsari River overflowed its banks.

Even Cardio Neuro Hospital in Bhokraha was flooded, preventing doctors from entering. The Armed Police Force used boats to transport four to five doctors inside the hospital.

In Ramdhuni Municipality-6 and 7 (Panchayan area), around 20 homes were submerged, while 10 homes were flooded in Itahari-5 (Drum and Sukumbasi Tole). Police, Armed Police, and locals have rescued dozens trapped in high-risk areas.

However, many victims remain in critical condition due to lack of relief distribution, officials said. Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra confirmed that detailed damage assessments will only be possible once water levels recede.

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Nationwide Impact: 52 Dead, 37 in Ilam Alone

The active monsoon combined with western winds has triggered heavy rainfall across Nepal, causing devastating floods and landslides. At least 52 people have died nationwide, with 37 deaths reported in Ilam district alone as of Sunday evening, said DSP Laxmi Bhandari of the District Police Office, Ilam.

The number of casualties continues to rise as many remote areas remain inaccessible. At least 20 people were injured, and one person is still missing, Bhandari added.

According to police, fatalities occurred in several locations:

• Maijogmai Rural Municipality – 8 deaths
• Deumai Rural Municipality – 8 deaths
• Ilam Municipality – 6 deaths
• Sandakpur Rural Municipality – 6 deaths
• Mangsebung Rural Municipality – 3 deaths
• Suryodaya Municipality – 5 deaths
• Fakfokthum Rural Municipality – 1 death

Among the dead are visitors from Panchthar and Dolakha who had traveled to Ilam during the Dashain holidays.

The District Administration Office, Ilam released a list of 37 confirmed fatalities and one missing person, including:

• Suresh Limbu (28, Fakfokthum-3)
• Manmaya Chhetri (65) and Ramika Chhetri (10) from Suryodaya-1
• Deep Basnet (45), Bhavanti Basnet (44), Divya Basnet (11) from Dolakha
• Samir Dejali (23), Praveen Tamang (23), Biraj Pathak Tamang (23) from Ilam-6
• Anu Tamang (32), Prinshika Magar (8), Awar Dattuwar (3) from Arjundhara-6, Jhapa, and others.

Multiple families from Maijogmai, Deumai, Mangsebung, and Sandakpur lost several members in single incidents.

Bridges and Infrastructure Destroyed

Landslides and floods have caused massive damage to infrastructure across Ilam:

• The new Bailey bridge over Puwakhola, connecting Ilam-9 and 11, has been completely swept away.
• Another bridge over Jogmai Khola linking Maijogmai-4 and Ilam-10 has also been destroyed.
• The concrete bridge at Maikhola-Belasi, connecting Ilam-11 and Mai-10, has collapsed.
• Bridges connecting Deumai and Mangsebung were also washed away, while another between Ilam-9 and 12 faces severe erosion risk.

According to SSP Deepak Pokharel, spokesperson for Koshi Province Police, rescue teams from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police have saved 532 people trapped by floods and landslides across the province.

At least 16 houses were completely destroyed, and 5,925 families displaced in Koshi Province, affecting nearly 26,984 individuals. Landslides and heavy rainfall have blocked roads, disrupted power and communication lines, and hampered rescue efforts.

Local authorities have started setting up temporary shelters and distributing relief supplies, while urging the federal government to provide immediate support and reconstruction aid for affected families.