Biratnagar Airport has been forced to halt all take-offs and landings after floodwaters from the Basta River inundated the airport’s taxiway and parking area on Wednesday morning. The unexpected flooding in Biratnagar Municipality-4 has led to the immediate suspension of flight operations.
Yubraj Bhandari, the information officer at Biratnagar Airport, assured that flights would resume shortly after the floodwaters recede. “We are currently draining the floodwater and conducting technical tests. The airport will resume its services once the rain subsides,” he stated. The decision to stop flights was made due to the risk posed by the floodwaters entering critical areas of the airport.
The heavy rainfall has also had severe consequences for the local population. In Biratnagar Municipality and Budhiganga Rural Municipality, 36 families have been displaced. In Biratnagar Municipality-8, 10 families had to leave their homes as the Singhia River flooded their settlement. The police have provided temporary shelter for these families in safe locations.
Similarly, another 10 families from Biratnagar Metropolitan City-19, Saradkar Tole, were displaced due to inundation and are currently housed in Shree Shivaji High School. In Budhiganga Rural Municipality-1, Shanti Chowk, and Gairi Tole, 16 families have sought refuge in their neighbors’ houses after being displaced by the floods. Rescue operations continue in Bakhari, Biratnagar Municipality-12, where the Kesalia River has caused significant flooding.
The District Police Office in Morang reported that rainwater has also infiltrated the barracks and cooking area of the police office in Hatkhola, Biratnagar-8. Authorities are actively working to manage the flooding and provide support to displaced families, aiming to restore normalcy as swiftly as possible.
