Halji village faces avalanche threat

By Rajan Rawat

Humla, Apr. 10: Halji, a village in Limi of Namkha Rural Municipality-6 in Humla, is facing a high risk of avalanches and landslides.

The settlement remains vulnerable throughout the year due to its location, surrounded on three sides by glacial lakes and steep, sandy slopes prone to landslides.

Local Nima Tamang said the village faces threats both in winter and monsoon season. A glacial lake located to the north of the settlement has burst several times in the past, triggering avalanches that have damaged land, water mills and a power house, further increasing the risk to the village.

He said residents live in constant fear, particularly during heavy snowfall in winter and rainfall in the monsoon. The north-eastern part of the village also consists of fragile, sandy terrain with steep slopes, making it highly susceptible to landslides. A school that once stood in the landslide-prone area has already been relocated to a safer location.

Ward Chairperson Paljor Tamang said relocating the entire settlement is not easy, as Halji is the largest village in Limi. “Residents are forced to live with the constant threat of avalanches and landslides,” he said, adding that rocks frequently fall from the slopes in the north-eastern area during the rainy season.

The village has 92 households, along with a school, ward office, monastery, community building and a health post. Despite the risks, locals have no option but to stay, living in fear.

He also said that a 1,200-year-old monastery in Halji holds deep cultural and religious significance, making relocation even more difficult for residents.

Tamang urged the rural municipality and other concerned authorities to take necessary measures to protect the village from avalanches and landslides.