Mahakali river water level recedes, but displaced families yet to return home

Kanchanpur: Displaced residents of three wards in Dodhara Chandani Municipality remain unable to return home despite a decrease in the water level of the Mahakali River.

Flooding in the Jogbudha River, triggered by incessant rainfall over the past two days, submerged 54 houses and displaced 218 people, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sagar Bohara of the District Police Office, Kanchanpur. The affected families, whose homes remain inundated, are currently sheltering in nearby schools.

Authorities say the families may be able to return later today as water levels continue to fall. Of those displaced:

• 70 people from 25 houses in Rampure Tapur Jarga Tole, Ward No. 8, have been housed at Janajyoti Secondary School.

• 55 people from 15 houses in Patara Khalla Tole, Ward No. 3, are sheltering at Jamuna Basic School, along with their belongings and livestock.

• 40 people from 12 houses in Shanti Tole, Ward No. 10, have been relocated to Ambika Secondary School.

• 23 personnel from the Armed Police Force BOP in Sundarnagar (Ward No. 10) have been moved to Omkar Basic School.

• 30 personnel from Kanjbhoj have been shifted to the Urban Vaccination Center building.

DSP Bohara confirmed that no casualties or serious incidents occurred due to timely rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, the Mahakali River’s flow, measured at 7:00 am today, was 171,913 cusecs, down from Monday evening’s peak of 271,000 cusecs—the highest recorded this year. For safety reasons, four-wheeled vehicles remain banned from crossing the Banwasa border bridge, as the restriction applies whenever river flow exceeds 100,000 cusecs.