In June 2021, the flood in
Melamchi River
Melamchi River (Nepali: मेलम्चि खोला) is a tributary of the Indrawati River. It originates from the Jugal Himal at an elevation of about amsl. It joins with the Indrawati River at Melamchi Bazaar.
Morphology
The Melamchi Ri ...
caused damage in the Melamchi Bazar in
Sindhupalchowk District
Sindhupalchowk District ( ne, सिन्धुपाल्चोक जिल्ला ) is a part of Bagmati Province and one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal, with an area of . The district's headquarters is in Chautara. In 2006, 336, ...
of
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
killing several locals and some foreigners
Cause
Based on the early research, the loose material on the upstream part of the Melamchi River activated due to the long monsoon rain. Sindhupalchowk being one of the most affected districts in
2015 earthquake, it is suggested that the mountain relaxation activated the debris flow. The continuous rainfall triggered numerous landslides around Melamchi. Melamchi River was blocked by one of the landslides for few hours creating
Landslide dam
A landslide dam or barrier lake is the natural damming of a river by some kind of landslide, such as a debris flow, rock avalanche or volcanic eruption. If the damming landslide is caused by an earthquake, it may also be called a quake lake. Some ...
. This dam burst generating flash flood with mix of debris mixture with sand, boulders and wood fragments.
The local authority issued a warning after sensing the river damming and locals were instructed to move up to higher ground. The flood hit the Melamchi bazar at night after 8 or 9 pm.
Damage
The public infrastructures mainly roads networks, bridges, electricity transmission and structures were damaged by the flood. The preliminary study estimated loss of 260 households, displacing 600 people.
Three foreigners - two Chinese and one Indian died in the incident along with 18 Nepalese. Other two Indians and one Chinese were missing.
Response
Nepal Army
The Nepali Army ( ne, नेपाली सेना, translit=Nēpālī Sēnā), technically the Gorkhali Army ( ne, गोरखाली सेना, translit=Gōrakhālī Sēnā, label=none; see ''Gorkhas''), is the land service branch ...
,
Armed Police Force
The Armed Police Force, Nepal is a paramilitary land force tasked with counter-insurgency operations in Nepal. It functions as a semi-military wing, and occupies a sort of dual role as both military and law enforcement. Service is volunta ...
, and
Nepal Police
Nepal Police is the national and primary law enforcement agency of Nepal. It is primarily responsible for maintaining law and order, prevention of crime and crime investigation within the jurisdiction determined by the Constitution of Nepal. ...
jointly conducted search and rescue operation in the flood damaged zone. The rescue operation faced difficulties due to the thick layer of mud deposited by the flood.
Flood on July
On July 31, 2021, another flood was recorded that swept about 55 houses in Kiul, Chanaute and Galyamthum.
See also
*
Landslide dam
A landslide dam or barrier lake is the natural damming of a river by some kind of landslide, such as a debris flow, rock avalanche or volcanic eruption. If the damming landslide is caused by an earthquake, it may also be called a quake lake. Some ...
*
Landslide damming (Nepal)
Landslides are triggered in Nepal due to a combination of steep mountains and unstable soils. The risk of the landslide is high in the monsoon season due to the lubrication of soil in the slope by moisture. Another important factor triggering the ...
*
Natural disasters in Nepal
Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. Although humans are p ...
References
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Natural disasters in Nepal
Floods in Nepal
Landslides in Nepal
History of Bagmati Province
Landslides in 2021
2021 disasters in Nepal