Himal Press 
Kul Man Ghising
KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has estimated that recent floods triggered by continuous rainfall on October 3 and 4 have caused damage worth tens of millions of rupees to government infrastructure across the country.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Kulman Ghising said that around 1,500 meters of embankments were breached in different parts of the country. This alone caused losses of around Rs 100 million.
In Gaurigunj-2, Jhapa, the Kankai River eroded around 200 meters of the embankment along the lower right bank of the Hulaki Highway and inundated about 114 houses in Hoklabari village. Likewise, around 500 hectares of paddy fields were submerged. Another 200-meter breach at Kuwadi in Jhapa Rural Municipality-2 caused losses of about Rs 7.5 million, according to the ministry.
Similarly, the Mechi River damaged several river spurs, causing losses of around Rs 5 million. Flooding from the Keshalia River in Biratnagar displaced 75 households, while the Kamala River eroded embankments along its eastern bank in Siraha’s Pateruwa area. This inflicted damages worth about Rs 2.5 million to the state.
In Rautahat, the Lalbakaiya River washed away about 60 meters of embankment, flooding 100 hectares of paddy fields, while another 120 meters of embankment were destroyed in Baudimai village. This led to the submerging of 200 hectares of farmland and houses, causing losses worth Rs 6 million.
In Mahottari, the Rato River caused damage worth about Rs 80 million after sweeping away protective structures.
Minister Ghising said the irrigation systems suffered minimal damage as the head regulators, main canals and branch canal gates were opened in time to divert the floodwaters back into the rivers safely.
However, floods in the Sunkoshi River inundated the under-construction dam site of the Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project, he added.
