Landslide leaves Badigad locals without power and water

BY THAKUR PRASAD ACHARYA,Baglung, Aug. 12: A landslide has caused problems with electricity and drinking water in various settlements in Ward Nos. 9 and 10 of Badigad Rural Municipality in Baglung district. 

The landslide that occurred on Tuesday last week damaged the micro-hydropower project and the drinking water system, making life of locals difficult, and putting many settlements at risk.

Ward Chairman Birendra Kumar Budha Magar said that around 1,200 households in Wards 9 and 10 had been left without electricity and 65 households without water after the water source and canal of the Darling Khola Micro-hydropower Project were damaged by the landslide. 

Additionally, 50 displaced households had been relocated to public spaces and schools. 

He said, “There is no immediate possibility of repairing the damaged water source and the canal of the micro-hydropower project. It has affected the entire settlement. Villages have turned into darkness in the absence of electricity."

 The landslide has completely blocked the Bhimgithe-Darling road and the road to Aarupata via Burtibang, leading to a shortage of daily necessities in the village.

According to Budha Magar, new settlements in Ward 9 and Aarupata, Patle, Klawajhing, Khor, Sallen Dhara and some settlements in Ward 10 are at high risk of landslides. The Patle village is at the highest risk, he said.

Meanwhile, the landslide victims complained that the initial relief distributed by the rural municipality was insufficient. 

Chairman of rural municipality Gandaki Thapa Adhikari said that the rural municipality provided food, tarpaulins, candles and other essential items and requested additional relief from the provincial and federal governments. 

He said, “The rural municipality is deeply saddened because of human loss in Ward 10 in the landslide. We are facing a major disaster. We cannot handle this alone. We have appealed for help from the federal, provincial and all concerned bodies." He said that the rural municipality was fully engaged in rescue operations, medical treatment of the injured, relief distribution and other assistance to ensure that the landslide victims felt the presence of the local government.

“Since it is not possible to rebuild the local micro-hydropower project immediately, discussions have been held with the Nepal Electricity Authority to extend the central power line as soon as possible,” he said, “Additionally, we need cooperation from the provincial and federal governments as the landslide has eroded the foundation of the roads in many places, making it impossible for the rural municipality to repair them alone.”

He informed that the rural municipality had been holding regular discussions with people's representatives, leaders of political parties, the district administration and other stakeholders regarding the relief for the landslide victims and relocating the settlements at risk to safer locations.

 He said that a team had been deployed to the landslide-affected settlements to collect details of the damage and provide medical treatment to the injured.