Flood destroys radio office in Melamchi

The flood in the Melamchi River inundated the Radio Melamchi office, damaging radio equipment and disrupting broadcasting. The radio which was disseminating news cautioning the public about the possibility of floods in the wake of incessant rainfall itself faced devastation on June 15.

The office building was constructed recently with community support which in no time lost its properties with the floods. Most of the equipment including laptops, computers, storage devices, and cameras became dysfunctional as the office building was inundated by the flooded Melamchi River. Loss of significant documents is equally worrying.

Now, it has been too difficult to run the radio. It is said the radio lost properties worth Rs 12 million. The office building was constructed at the cost of Rs 6.5 million.

Chairman of Radio Melamchi, Dambar Rasik, informed that they were mulling how the radio could be operated in a sustainable way after the devastation. For the immediate running of radio, laptop, desktop computers, furniture, audio converters are needed. He appealed to all concerned to extend support from their sides to resume the radio.

Meanwhile, the survivors of the Melamchi floods are waiting desperately for the relief materials. The disconnection with the damage of roads and bridges has caused inconvenience to reach the remote rural areas while some have provided abundant relief assistance in the lower belt of Melamchi area.

The locals have urged the donors to extend assistance based on need. Mayor at Melamchi Municipality Dambar Aryal said although efforts were underway to resume the road to reach Helambu from Melamchi, the water level in the river has not receded, causing sheer inconvenience.