Landslides claim 10 lives in Jumla, settlements inundated in Dang

Netra Shahi/Diwakar Pokharel

Jumla/Dang Oct. 13: Landslides and floods caused by the monsoon rain in Jumla have claimed 10 lives.  A meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee held on Wednesday briefed that the monsoon havoc has killed 10 persons in the district so far. The meeting was chaired by Chief District Officer Mukesh Kumar Keshari. 

In Kanakasundari Rural Municipality-5, seven people, including five of the family members of Ganesh Shahi, were killed by a landslide. 

Similarly, a mother and son in Hima Rural Municipality-3 were swept away by the flood. Only the body of a mother has been found, while the whereabouts of the boy is still unknown, said CDO Keshari. 

Likewise, flood swept away and killed Khadka Neupane of Kanakasundari Rural Municipality-3 of the district.   

According to CDO Keshari, the monsoon-related disaster has completely destroyed 85 houses while 200 houses witnessed partial damages. He said 100 other houses are under risk of damage. 

Similarly, Karnali and Nagma-Gamgadi highways have been blocked for the past six days. Telephone and internet services have also been partially disrupted.  Paddy of Marsi brand which was ready for harvest has also been damaged. Local peas, maize and millet production were also damaged by the monsoon rain.  

Likewise, floods and inundation have damaged 2,500 houses in Dang district. 

According to District Administration Office data, 99 houses were completely damaged and 2,312 partially. 

Deukhuri of Dang was hit hardest by flood and inundation. More than 500 sheds were damaged, killing 2,605 cattle. Assistant Chief District Officer of Dang Sabitri Pun informed six persons were killed and three went missing in the flood in the district. 

Likewise, nine factories were damaged by flood. The ready-for-harvest paddy crops also got destroyed. 

The local government said it was collecting data of damages caused by floods. Gadhawa Rural Municipality Agriculture Department Chief Karta Ram Yadav said that paddy field of all wards except for the Koilabas area of Ward No.8 were inundated. It would take three more days to collect the data, he informed. District Disaster Management Committee has started rescue and relief activities in the district. 

So far, 734 people have been rescued. Of them 241 are women, 354 men and 140 children. 

As the weather improved on Wednesday, it has been easy for rescue and relief works. Chief District Officer of Dang Hiralal Regmi said that rescue and relief efforts have been easier since Wednesday. Most of the rescued people have returned home while some have taken shelter at their relative’s place. 

Meanwhile, the locals in Narainapur Sonbarsha of Banke have demanded immediate repair of the dam that was destroyed by a week of continuous rains. The team including Banke CDO Surya Bahadur Khatri and District Police chief and Superintendent of Police Shyam Krishna Adhikari had 

reached Narainapur to inspect the flood and inundation in the area including the dam.

The locals have been in worry after the flood entered the settlement damaging the dam built by Sikta in Ward No. 7 of Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality and Ward No. 6 of Narainapur Rural Municipality. 

Ishtiyaq Ahmed Shah, chairman of Narainapur Rural Municipality, said that the locals had demanded repair of the dam as the area could suffer more damages if the rain persisted.  

He informed that the residential areas of Rapti Sonari and 

Narainapur were facing the problems of floods, inundation and erosion and requested to take initiatives for long-term solution to the recurring problems. 

Khatri expressed his commitment to taking immediate steps to repair and build the embankment of the dam.

He said that he would approach the Home Minster to take necessary steps to control the flood and inundation problems. 

More than 3,000 households have been the victim of flood and inundation in Narainapur, informed chief administration officer Mani Ram Kharal.