PRASHANT KHADKA

KATHMANDU, August 1

The flooded Bagmati River following heavy rain on Tuesday has inundated the Balkhu Fruits and Vegetables Market in Kathmandu causing a huge financial damage, the vendors operating there said. 

With 450 stalls, it is considered one of the largest vegetable markets in the Kathmandu Valley.

“It is estimated that there has been a loss of more than Rs 50 million,” Mohan Kumar Basnet, director of the market, told NBA. 

The Balkhu market supplies about 30% of the vegetables to the Kathmandu Valley.

According to Basnet, the flooded river started entering the market area around 1:45 am on Wednesday and took only 30 minutes to sweep away most of the food materials.

“Two large trucks carrying vegetables and three smaller vehicles were also submerged, damaging their engines,” said Basnet. “The flood also caused damage to two generators, a car, seven motorcycles and two refrigerators.” 

Fruits and vegetables are brought at Balkhu from the hilly districts surrounding the Kathmandu Valley as well as from Terai. The produce is then supplied to a dozen smaller markets such as in Tukucha, Dhumbarahi and Kirtipur.

Ram Kumar Siwakoti, who has been selling vegetables at the Balkhu market for about eight years, mentioned that the market is at high risk of flooding due to its proximity to the river. 

“Although the Bagmati floods inundate the market every year, this year's flood was unprecedented in its severity," said Siwakoti, claiming that the water level in the vegetable market has risen to as high as six feets. 

“While around 70% of the food was swept away, the rest have been buried in mud.”

According to Basnet, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ramnath Adhikari, who visited the Balkhu market on Wednesday, has assured the vendors to appeal to the government for providing them compensation after receiving the details of destruction.

The swollen river also caused damage worth around Rs 6.5 million at Kuleshwor Fruit Market where around 250 vendors operate.

Purushottam Ghimire, treasurer at Nepal Fruits Wholesaler Association, said that the fruits stored to ripen were swept away by the flood.

Following the flood, the market's turnover dipped by 90% on Wednesday.  

Business may be affected for a few more days as the market remains inundated.