Nepalgunj, July 27
Water level in the Rapti River has surpassed the danger mark by two metres. There were no human casualties in Banke due to timely mobilisation of search and rescue mechanism.
Since 6 am on Tuesday, water level in the Rapti had started rising. At 10 pm the same day, the water level rose to 8.15 metres. This is the highest water level recorded in the river so far this year. Two years ago, the level had once reached 7.77 metres.
A Nepal Army chopper rescued 401 people marooned due to flooding in Holiya VDC of Banke and moved them to safer places.
Most of the rescued are children, senior citizens and women. The rescued include 192 children, 126 females and 83 males.
Rabi Lal Pantha, Banke chief district officer, said they managed to prevent human casualties even when the Rapti water level reached record high by starting rescue operations right after getting information about a constant rise in the water level.
CDO Pantha said the army chopper airlifted Shanti Lohar of Banke Gangapur-3, who was suffering from pregnancy-related complications. He said Lohar was admitted to a nursing home in Nepalgunj.
