Cyclone Remal hits hard Kangpokpi District, flash floods inundate homes, bridge demolished

Sadar Hills in Kangpokpi District was completely disconnected from the rest of the world on Tuesday as Cyclone Remal created havoc in the district, disrupting power supply, water, communication, and other services.

Kangpokpi District Headquarters experienced harrowing plights on Tuesday as Cyclone Remal swept through the town, causing flash floods due to the incessant rainfall, inundating vast parts of the town, mainly the lower portions.

One block of the District Hospital, comprising a laboratory room, examination room, rest room, kitchen, and the emergency room, was inundated by the flash flood, compelling the hospital authorities to cease services for the day.

The flash floods in the District Headquarters inundated hundreds of residential houses in Zonlhing Veng Ward No. 1, Ngambom Veng Ward No. 8, Lamdil Veng Ward No. 5, Zaphal Veng Ward No. 9, Phungtin Veng Ward No. 15, Tintong Veng Ward No. 2, and Moltinchan Veng Ward No. 12, with Zonlhing Veng Ward No. 1 being the worst affected.

The locals, under the supervision of the District Council Administration and assisted by KTC and KYU, had a hard time evacuating the residents of the inundated areas to a safer place while monitoring the situation of the fierce flash flood and engaged two JCBs to divert the strong current of the rivulet that inundated residential houses in Zonlhing Veng Ward No.1.

Most of the schools in the district declared a holiday on Tuesday owing to Cyclone Remal, while some educational institutions opened, despite the risks.

The incessant rainfall also swelled the Gundung River and various other rivulets, causing heavy destruction to the important bridge over the Gundung River connecting Kangpokpi District Headquarters and Saikul Sub-Divisional Headquarters via Keithelmanbi. The bridge served as the second lifeline for the people residing in the Saikul region.

Minor landslides also occurred at various locations along National Highway 2, which were immediately cleared by the district police, preventing traffic jams along the highway.

The heavy rainfall accompanied by a storm also damaged a residential house at 10 Miles Poudel Basti in the Twilang area of Kangpokpi District, while a river near Gorkha Jhil in the same region, flowed over the road and damaged it.

The devastating Cyclone Remal gradually began to recede late on Tuesday evening, but the district remained in darkness as power could not be restored yet.

Airtel services were restored on Wednesday afternoon but turned the 5G era into 2G, while other network providers, including JIO, have yet to be restored.

Meanwhile, the District Administration's public advisory, issued only on May 28 afternoon, was available to the media the next day only, owing to the disruption of mobile and WiFi services.