Disaster-prone Sindhupalchowk calls for serious action

By Chitra Mijar,Sindhupalchowk, Aug. 12: Sindhupalchowk has always been at high risk of natural disasters, from earthquakes to floods to landslides and more. Despite not experiencing any major disaster so far this year, residents of the district are constantly worried about the looming possibility of one that may hit at any time, often without a warning. 

With the surge in floodwaters in the Melamchi, Bhotekoshi, Sunkoshi, and Bramhayani Rivers, as well as other small rivers, the inhabitants residing close to these areas are grappling with incessant anxiety over potential landslides, both day and night.

According to the District Disaster Management Committee, Sindhupalchowk has experienced many disasters over the past ten years. From the Jure landslide on August 2, 2014, to the recent recurrent events, around 4,000 individuals have lost their lives, while hundreds more have sustained injuries. 

Many families have been displaced. The floods are a big threat to the people because of the weak landscape, poorly managed settlements, and houses constructed on the river banks. 

On July 31, 2014, a devastating landslide struck Itini Village at the dam side of Balefi Rural Municipality-8, killing 145 people in Kagune and Itini villages, completely destroying 153 houses and blocking the Sunkoshi River for 12 hours. 

Compounding the misery in April 2015, a catastrophic earthquake and subsequent aftershocks left 3,571 people dead, 1,565 injured and over 93,000 houses razed to the ground. 

The severe flooding of the Bhotekoshi River on July 5, 2016, resulted in the destruction of 30 houses in Liping of Bhote Koshi Rural Municipality, 30 houses in Tatopani, and 60 houses along the riverbanks. Hundreds of families were displaced. The floods also caused extensive damage to the Barhabise-Kodari Highway. In another devastating incident on August 24, 2017, the floods washed away the Larcha Motorable Bridge.

The Barhabise-Tatopani-Liping road had been disconnected. On September 18, 2018, the floods caused by the Sandikolcha in Ward No. 3 and 4 of Barhabise Municipality swept away a motorable bridge. In the Barhabise Bazaar area, 22 houses were affected by floods and landslides.

The devastating flood of Bhotekoshi on July 8, 2020, killed two in Jambu Bazaar of Barhabise Municipality and left 17 missing and 22 houses being swept away.

On August 13, 2020, at around 5am, a landslide from higher up the hill tore through a settlement in Jugal Rural Municipality-2. The incident claimed 

the lives of 39 individuals, destroyed 37 houses and displaced over a hundred families. These survivors have now resettled in various areas like Deurali in Chautara Sangachokgadi, Banskharka in Jugal, Chanauta, and Selang.

On July 15, 2021, the Melamchi floods wreaked havoc, causing extensive damage, including loss of human lives. The torrential waters, triggered by heavy rainfall in the Helambu region and surging down from the Bhimathang Hills, left 18 dead who were residing near the river, around a dozen others missing and half a dozen still others families displaced. 

The floods swept away 308 houses in the Helambu and Melamchi areas. Over 600 families were displaced, 13 concrete and suspension bridges were destroyed, and 7,000 ropanis of land washed away.

However, the government at all three levels seems to lack sensitivity towards the disaster-prone Sindupalchowk. Despite the high risk posed by floods and landslides to around 250 settlements, the government has not shown a keen interest in relocating these communities to safer areas.

Despite the District Disaster Management Committee’s efforts to mitigate disasters and prepare for relief and response activities, there have been no substantial initiatives to relocate high-risk settlements to safer areas.

Rabi Dhital, the officer of the District Disaster Management Committee, informed that 68 families affected by the Lidi landslide have been allocated land in Jugal Rural Municipality-1, Selang, where the government is in the process of purchasing the land. 

Likewise, 17 families have been provided with land in Municipality-5, and 42 families have already been allocated land in Municipality-4, Deurali. Moreover, around 20 families were granted land in Deurali, Chautara Sangachokgadi, and have since resettled there after building their houses.

Many of the Melamchi flood victims have returned to their own land and are constructing houses. About 40 affected families have managed to build their homes. Others are progressively involved in the construction process. 

The government has been active in purchasing land and facilitating housing construction for flood victims, particularly in Panchpokhari Rural Municipality. For instance, 11 affected families in that village have been provided with land in Bhotaang and the process of housing reconstruction is in progress.

A plan has been devised to relocate 85 affected families from Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality and 92 families from Barhabise Municipality to safer areas. Preparations are currently underway, including the provision of tents, corrugated sheets, and other essential supplies for their temporary accommodation.

Some families have been provided with tents for temporary shelter. Dhital, said that affected recipients in Nagpuje, Jambu, and Khagdal are being assisted with Rs. 500,000 for land purchase and Rs. 800,000 for housing reconstruction. 

Despite the efforts of the District Disaster Management Committee to minimise the impact of disasters, the practical implementation of those measures seems to be lacking. Relocating at-risk settlements has not been effectively carried out.

In the term of earlier local government, five local levels had failed to effectively relocate settlements at high risk of landslides.

Despite the completion of geological studies, some at-risk settlements remain yet to be relocated. These include -- Golche, Selang, Banskharka and Lidi, within Jugal Rural Municipality and 53 settlements in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality, including Larcha, Dhanpal, and Milan Basti.

Likewise, there are 83 settlements in Barhabise Municipality, including Tansar, Nakpuje, Khagdal, and other regions, as well as settlements in Balefi Rural Municipality and various areas within Chautara Sangachokgadi Municipality. The absence of relocation initiatives for these settlements has resulted in affected individuals continuing to inhabit these high-risk zones.

The District Disaster Management Committee and local disaster management committees have been practicing disaster preparedness exercises, including search and rescue practices, simulation of disaster recovery, and basic first aid training to ensure safety. 

Local authorities have set up disaster funds to cope during and after the disasters. However, allegations have been made that in the procurement of materials, such as tents and mats, some local authorities have misappropriated resources.