Bajura settlements at risk of landslide, flood

By Sher Bahadur Sharki Bajura, June 15: Partola settlement, Chhededaha Rural Municipality-2, in Khaptad, Bajura district, is at high risk of landslides this year too.

Landslips striking from the top of the settlement even before the start of the rainfall season have put the settlement at risk. Locals of the area had started leaving their houses and shifted to other places after the landslide hit the village due to incessant rains on the night of August 9 last year.

The locals, who had returned to the village thinking that there would be no landslide this rainy season, have been forced to leave their homes and move to other safe places as the landslide started again.

According to the locals, they have always feared rainfalls and worried about where to go to save their lives after the landslide hit. 

Tulaksha Rawat, a local of Khaptad Chhededaha Rural Municipality-5, said, "We stayed here during the winter season but this season, the landslide started too early.  So we are anxious about how to go to save our lives," 

He continued, "Last year, we stayed under a tent during the rainy season after the landslide started hitting from above the settlement. We are facing the same problem this year too."

Dozens of settlements including Partola and Dogdi of Chhededah-5 in Khaptad are at high risk of floods.

According to Dil Bahadur Rawat, Chairman of Khaptad Chhededaha Rural Municipality, more than 50 households in the settlement are now at risk.

He said, "Even though we have been putting gabion and glass in the area to prevent landslides for the first few years, landslides keep falling."

“We have no option but to relocate to safe place. The settlement should be relocated immediately as the entire village is prone to flooding.” 

Along with the settlement, Dogadi health post and school are also at high risk of landslides. Patients who come to the health post for treatment are also terrified by the landslide. Due to the cold, many patients have to visit the health post for flu treatment.

Employees of Dogadi Health Post said that they were worried about the landslide while treating the patients in the health post. Although winter landslides pose no major threat, they are likely to cause significant damage during the rainy season.

According to the District Administration Office, Bajura, the local level Disaster Management Committee, as well as the locals have been urged to stay vigilant. 

Chief District Officer at the District Administration Office, Bajura, Prakash Chandra Adhikari said that the Home Ministry has been informed to relocate the settlement to a safe place.