Flooding caused by the swollen Godavari River following incessant rains last night resulted in significant damages to religious shrines along the Godavaridham area in Kailali.
It damaged the water pond, temples of deities Shreeyanta, Vishnu and Shiva and other physical structures. The area has been littered with the depositions of timber, sand and stones brought by the flood to the area. In addition to this, the disaster also inflicted damages on solar lamps fitted along the area and the river embankment as well.
Dham Development Committee's Padam Raj Joshi confirmed the losses caused by the flood.
Khagendra Binadi, a resident of the Dham, reported the occurrence of a sudden flood during the time of performing Aarati (evening prayer). A joint team of the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and the local youths managed to rescue the people including priests and devotees who got trapped by the flood and escort them to safety.
The flood has caused a threat to the around six-decade-old bridge made up with wood and metal as it resulted in significant erosion near the bridge site. An RCC bridge has also been constructed nearby the old structure.
Godavari Dham, remaining as a gateway to the hilly districts in Sudurpashim Province, holds immense importance both as a major religious shrine and a popular tourist destination. Especially during the Makar Sankranti or Maghe Sankranti festival, observed on the first day of the month of Magh in the lunar calendar, a large number of devotees from both Nepal and India gather here to observe the festival.
Meanwhile, apart from this, Dhangadhi-Dadeldhura (Bhimdutta) Highway has been disrupted after segments at the Budhitola section caved in due to the rains.
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