MAHENDRANAGAR: A team from the Armed Police Force (APF), has safely rescued 20 individuals who were trapped in sudden floods triggered in the Doda River and Bahun Khola in Punarbas, Kanchanpur.

The rescue operation was carried out by a team from the Armed Police Force Nepal Border Outpost (BOP) Bichphanta after five local women, who had crossed the Doda River at Sitabasti in Punarbas Municipality-9 to collect fiddlehead ferns (niuro) in a nearby forest, were trapped when the water flow unexpectedly surged.

According to the Armed Police Force No. 7 Baidyanath Brigade Headquarters in Attariya, the operation was executed by a specialized squad trained in disaster management, led by Armed Police Deputy Inspector Shanta Bahadur Sunar.

In a separate incident at Baahun Khola, located in Hariyali Toll, Punarbas Municipality-9, 15 women who had gone out to collect firewood and fodder were safely rescued after the river’s water level rose abruptly. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Armed Police Force No. 7 Baidyanath Brigade, Digbijay Subedi, confirmed their safe evacuation.

DIG Subedi stated that the APF’s disaster management trained squad was assisted by the Nepal Police, local representatives, and community members during the rescue operations.

With the onset of the monsoon causing heavy rainfall in the hilly regions, water levels in the rivers of the Tarai plains are susceptible to sudden and dangerous surges. Consequently, the Armed Police Force Baidyanath Brigade Headquarters has urged the general public to remain highly vigilant and exercise caution.