Yangpang, Champe locals suffer from flood, landslide amid festival season

By Gokul Bhujel

Bhojpur, Oct 3 : “It was midnight when there was a heavy rainfall. Around a 50-metre-long landslide fell from the side of my house. I am now 70 years old but I hadn’t seen such a heavy rain ever,” said Dhan Bahadur Karki, a local of Arun Rural Municipality.

According to Karki, the disaster has thrown water into the celebration of Dashain festival.

Alongside landslide, locals from Yangpang, a village in Ward No. 1 of Arun, and Champe, a village in Ward No. 2, have been greatly affected by floods and landslides recently due to continuous rainfall.

The heavy rainfall on September 28 had caused major damage as rain-induced disasters damaged irrigation, road, electricity and drinking water facilities.

Recently, rain has stopped and the locals, government bodies, security forces and organisations like Nepal Red Cross Society are busy in rescue and relief operation alongside collecting data on the damage.

A total of 30 displaced families of Yangpang were the first to receive relief package. They were provided foods, blankets, utensils and tarpaulin by the District Administration Office, Bhojpur, local level and helping hands. 

Similarly, 30 displaced families in Champe were also provided with similar relief.

“During Dashain festival, there is lack of manpower. Moreover, roads have been destroyed causing delay in conducting relief and rescue operations effectively,” said Shalikram Khatri, chairman of Arun Rural Municipality.

According to Khatri, 14 houses have been completely destroyed, 40 have been buried by landslide and 80 houses are unfit for living. Similarly, road, drinking water and electricity services have been affected, poultry farms, paddy fields and maize fields have been destroyed.

The local level has managed a local school building to provide shelter to the displaced families for now. “Items required to eat and sleep are provided to the families. Financial support has also been given,” said Khatri.

Chief District Officer of Bhojpur Hari Prasad Ghimire informed that they plan to ask federal and provincial government for necessary support as soon as they finalise the report of the damages by the disasters.

According to Ghimire, rescue and relief operation is still underway.