Chances of moderate rainfall in Bhotekoshi flood affected area in afternoon: DHM

Kathmandu, Sept 2: There is a possibility of moderate rain in the Bhotekoshi flood-affected areas this afternoon.

Meteorologist Rojan Lamichhane from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said that nearby areas affected by the Bhotekoshi flood, including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading, may experience moderate rain this afternoon.

According to the department, in the past 12 hours, the highest rainfall was recorded at the weather station in Nosyam Pati, Sindhupalchok, measuring 60.2 millimeters.

Moderate rainfall has occurred in many areas of Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces, while some areas of Koshi, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces have experienced light to moderate rainfall.

The department has stated that the weather will generally be cloudy across the country this afternoon. There is a chance of moderate rain and snowfall with thunderstorms/lightning in some places of the mountainous region and many places in the hilly region.

The department stated that there is a possibility of moderate rainfall with thunderstorms in some parts of the Tarai in Lumbini and Sudurpaschim provinces, as well as in a few places of the Madhesh, Koshi and Bagmati provinces, and the Tarai area of Gandaki province.

There is a possibility of heavy rain in the hilly and mountainous areas of Bagmati and Gandaki provinces, the mountainous areas of Koshi province, and in a few places in the hilly and Tarai areas of Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces.

Tonight, the weather will be generally cloudy across the country. Some places in the hilly and mountainous areas may experience moderate rain and snowfall along with thunder and lightning, while a few places in the Tarai may also see moderate rain with thunder and lightning, the department has stated.

There is a possibility of heavy rain at a few places in the mountainous regions of Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces tonight.

Challenges in rescue: NDRRMA Executive Chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Dr. Dharma Raj Uprety, said that the water filling up in the tunnel due to rain has caused additional challenges in the search and rescue operations in the areas affected by the Bhotekoshi flood.

According to him, due to the overnight rain, water filled the hydropower tunnel and even the pump used to drain out the water from there got submerged. He informed that the security personnel are pulling out the pump and working on draining the water. “The search has started since early morning.

The security personnel are working on removing the pump that stopped working after it was submerged by water due to last night’s rain,” he said.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has said that since there is a possibility of rain for another three days, additional difficulties could arise in the affected areas. It stated that due to the rain, challenges in search, rescue, and disaster management other activities may increase, so necessary precautions have been adopted, he said.  #rss