Suwa village of Myagdi facing high risk of landslide

Thakur Prasad Acharya,Myagdi (Beni) Aug. 22: Suwa village of Annapurna Rural Municipality-3 is facing high risk of landslide due to incessant rains for the last few days.  Among 52 families residing in Suwa, 10 families have already been displaced due to landslide. Harka Bahadur Tilija, 82, is taking shelter in his relative’s home as the risk of landslide looms. Landslide has disrupted drinking water service as well.

Heavy rain of August 17 caused landslides in Khama Bhitta and Suke Bagar area of Kali Gandaki basin which eventually displaced 10 families of Suwa village owing to the fear of probable landslide. Tilija, a senior citizen of Suwa, said, “Landslide has started burying our houses, where we had lived for years. There are numerous probable landslides in the village and we haven’t faced the risk of this magnitude earlier.”

The Chairman of Annapurna Rural Municipality-3, Ramesh Purja said landslide had completely destroyed Sat Bir Purja’s house. Purja further informed that more than 52 landslides had occurred in Dana Area. Pulibang, Phagam, Kameredanda, Titar too are facing high risk of landslide.

Suwa has lost its communication with other places after the landslide. The displaced families are relocated to safe places in Dana at the initiative of Rural Municipality and District Disaster Management Committee. Armed Police Force deployed by Galeswor Company have made tent houses for the displaced using the tents provided by the Disaster Management Committee. 

Dewa Kumari Tilija, vice chair of the rural municipality, said, 40 people of 10 families residing in the high-risk area are relocated in safe places and the rural municipality is providing tents, drinking water and essential items in Suwa and other places of Dana.

The team including Gandaki Province Assembly Member, Hari Bhandari, Vice Chairman of Rural Municipality, Chief Administrative Officer, Amrit Subedi, Ward Chairman, Ramesh Purja, coordinator of Social Development Committee, Om Prasad Phagami, have visited Suwa village to gather information regarding the risk of landslide.  Chief District Officer, Subedi, informed that he would coordinate with provincial government for the rehabilitation of the displaced. He further informed that the rural municipality had relocated the displaced to the safe places and was managing essential items like food, water and tents.