Relief distributed to flood, landslide victims in Ilam

By Prem Adhikari,Ilam, Oct. 8: The number of people who lost their lives in floods and landslides in Ilam has reached 39, according to data updated on Tuesday.

Police said that the body of Pravesh Gurung, 24, from Sandakpur Rural Municipality-5 was recovered on Tuesday, raising the death toll to 39. 

Gurung had gone missing since October 3. His body was found about 400 metres downstream in a local river.

Earlier, 37 bodies were recovered in Ilam on October 3, and one more on October 5. Mahendra Limbu of Ilam Municipality-6 is still missing.

Roads across the district remain blocked. Pregnant women and patients in remote areas are facing severe hardship. Even a Nepali Army helicopter sent to rescue stranded people could not land due to bad weather.

Sunita Nepal, Chief District Officer of Ilam, said that the rescue operation is being hampered by adverse weather, but local governments are working to clear the roads as soon as possible.

In another development, the Koshi Provincial Government has started distributing relief materials to the victims of floods and landslides in Ilam. Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki flew to Mangsebung Rural Municipality and Ilam Municipality on Tuesday on a Nepali Army helicopter carrying relief materials.

According to his press coordinator, Bikram Luitel, the provincial government distributed rice, lentils, tarpaulins and blankets in the first phase. He said that additional relief will be sent to Deumai, Sandakpur and Maijogmai areas on Wednesday.

Since the army helicopter can carry only up to 1,000 kilograms at a time, relief is being sent in limited quantity. Karki said the government is also transporting supplies by road and on foot to reach remote settlements.

Chief Minister Karki assured that the provincial government would extend all possible support to the affected families. Earlier, the Koshi Province Government had announced financial assistance of Rs. 100,000 for family of those who died in the disaster.

Similarly, free transport services have been launched in Ilam to help passengers stranded by floods and landslides during the festival season.

From Monday, the Suryodaya Municipality began operating a free bus service from Maikhola to Fikkal to help those stuck on the way. The bus of Karfok Bidhya Mandir Secondary School has been used for this purpose, according to Mayor Rana Bahadur Rai.

Following the initiative, the District Disaster Management Committee decided to expand the service to other areas. Ilam Municipality has also started a free transport service from Ilam Bazaar to Maikhola (Rajduwali).

Similarly, the Purweli Transport Service has been running temporary free services along the Ilam-Maikhola route until the roads become fully operational. Local social worker Ratan Agrawal has also provided a vehicle free of cost to help stranded travellers.

The District Administration Office had requested private schools and organisations to support with their vehicles. 

Chief District Officer Sunita Nepal said that free transport had been arranged to help tourists and passengers reach their destinations.

Currently, transport is operating up to Maikhola. The Mechi Highway beyond this point has been washed away by landslides and remains blocked by mud. Assistant Chief District Officer Bhola Nath Guragai said the road would be repaired only after weather conditions improved.

Travellers reaching Maikhola can walk about 15 minutes to catch another vehicle to Ilam.

Road clearance work is also underway on the Ilam-Nepaltar section and officials said that by this evening, transport is expected to resume up to Panchthar.

At the same time, the Ilam Hotel Entrepreneurs Association has announced free accommodation and food for stranded passengers and tourists. Association president Devi Paudel said that poor and hospital-bound people will receive free lodging.

Meanwhile, our Jhapa correspondent Bishnu Prasad Pokharel reported that efforts have begun to provide emergency food relief to affected families where floods have caused the most damage and displacement.

Although the situation has started to improve after the rain stopped, about 25,000 people from nearly 5,000 families are expected to face food shortages. Most houses in Jhapa Rural Municipality were submerged, destroying food stocks and clothing.

Lokraj Dhakal, chairperson of the Nepal Red Cross Society Jhapa chapter, said that in his 40 years of work in disaster response, he has never witnessed such devastation. He said food and clothing are urgently needed.

According to Chief District Officer Gopal Kumar Adhikari, at least 2,000 families require immediate relief. The aid will be distributed through a one-door system to ensure proper coordination.

Under the “One for One” campaign led by coordinator Mahendra Giri, each relief package includes 25 kg of rice, 2 kg of lentils, two kg of salt, one litre of oil, and five kg of potatoes, along with two blankets and two mattresses per family.

A discussion was held under the supervision of the District Administration Office to coordinate relief collection and distribution.