MAHOTTARI: More than 200 bighas of paddy fields in Jaleshwar Municipality–8 have been submerged by floodwaters, leaving farmers devastated at the peak of the growing season.
According to Ward Chairperson Bijay Kumar Singh, floodwaters entered from the forest area at Nari Chauri in northern Jaleshwar and inundated farmlands across Nari Chauri, Purwabari Chauri, Dakshinwari Chauri, Jhari Chauri, and Pachiyari Chauri.
Among the affected areas, Bajrahi village suffered the heaviest losses, with nearly 170 bighas of cultivated land destroyed. An additional 30 bighas of farmland in Ratwara and Ramaul villages were also damaged.
Farmers who had recently transplanted paddy following rainfall in mid-July expressed their frustration and despair. Rohit Chaudhary of Bajrahi reported that his three bighas of paddy were submerged, while fellow farmer Gauri Chaudhary lost crops planted on two bighas. Harish Chandra Thakur said floods wiped out his two bighas of fields despite the high costs of seed, fertilizer, and labor. Similarly, Prem Chandra Pathak reported damage to 1.5 bighas of his crops.
Dozens of other farmers, including Janaki Thakur, Bauelal Mahara, Shyambabu Chaudhary, Bharat Chaudhary, Arvind Sah, Manoj Sah, Dani Pathak, Ash Narayan Mandal, Dinesh Pathak, Mangal Pathak, Mochan Sah, Ramji Thakur, and Jibach Mandal, also reported heavy crop losses.
Residents of Ratwara and Ramaul, including Moti Mandal, Vikas Mandal, Bhajan Mandal, Biltu Yadav, Vimal Singh, and Bhuneshwar Yadav, said their paddy fields were completely inundated.
Ward Chairperson Singh explained that the flood was triggered after locals in Madai (Mahottari Rural Municipality–3) and Kolhuwa (Ekdara Rural Municipality–5) breached a dam along the Rato Khola last week. The sudden release of water flooded Jaleshwar–8, submerging around 80 percent of cultivated paddy fields.
“The damage is severe. Farmers’ paddy crops have been destroyed, and water has not yet receded,” Singh said. “If the water remains stagnant, no crops can be planted for at least five months.”
Meanwhile, farmers have appealed to Jaleshwar Mayor Suresh Sah Sonar to arrange for immediate drainage of floodwaters and provide relief support to affected households.
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