Singa Tatopani Kund Damaged by Floodwaters

Myagdi. The natural healing site Singa Tatopani Kund in Beni Municipality-4 has been damaged by the floodwaters of the Myagdi River following continuous rainfall from October 8 to 11. The floodwaters entered the large and upper hot water pools, used by patients for treatment, among the three pools, accumulating mud, while the small pool, operated for tourists, was destroyed by the flood. The building for changing clothes, the building housing the hot water storage tank, and the open bathing area were destroyed and buried by landslides, said Krishna Khadka, Chairman of the Singa Tatopani Kund Management Committee. "Due to the damage to the physical structures of the Tatopani Kund by floods and landslides, it is not possible to bathe for now, and the kund is closed," he said. "We are trying to bring the Tatopani Kund back into operation by clearing the mud and silt accumulated in the pool." A meeting of the committee held on Monday decided that the residents of Tatopani would start laboring from Tuesday to clear the silt and mud accumulated in the pool, said committee member Mina Jugjali. She stated that they are expecting assistance from the municipality, provincial, and federal governments for the conservation and repair of Singa Tatopani Kund, which is a tourist and natural healing site. October-November is the main season for bathing at the Singa Tatopani Kund. With the kund closed during the main season, the Tatopani market has become deserted. Hotel, restaurant, and homestay business operators are disappointed. More than 20,000 people from all 77 districts of Nepal and from abroad visit annually for natural treatment. Hot water, which comes out at a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius with a smell of sulfuric acid, collected in pools on the banks of the Myagdi River, was used for bathing. According to Kumar KC, Secretary of the Singa Tatopani Kund Management Committee, bathing in the pool collected with water smelling of sulfuric acid is believed to cure skin problems, gastric issues, arthritis, and injuries. The months of October-November, December, January, February, March, April, and May are the seasons for bathing at the Tatopani Kund.