Residents of Southern Lalitpur say "Floods and landslides are more terrifying than earthquakes"

On-site report

BHARDEU (LALITPUR), Oct 3: The torrential rain has created a hole in Bimala Lama's house. The grains stored in the granary are buried under the soil. Her farmland has turned into a riverbed. In that very riverbed, she found a soybean plant with pods. "We have neither food nor shelter," said Lama from Bhardeu, Konjyosom Rural Municipality, showing the soybean pods. "We are searching for grains in the riverbed to manage something for the evening meal."

After last week's flood and landslide destroyed her house, she has taken refuge at one of her relatives’ place. She mentioned that the homes of three of her relatives were also destroyed by the flood and landslide, so they have all sought shelter with other relatives on a nearby hill.

"Along with the grains, nine goats were also buried," she said. "The suffering that began on Friday night has only been increasing." As she spoke, the small children appeared more concerned about their buried notebooks and textbooks. They were more worried about their books than the food.

"My friend's school got washed away; ours didn’t, but all our notebooks and books were swept away by the flood," said Sumnima Lama, a fifth-grade student wearing a T-shirt with a smiley face, her expression dark and gloomy. "Now I don’t know what to write or read," she added.

As the small girl spoke, Bahadur Lama, standing nearby, looked helpless. After losing food, shelter, and clothing all at once, he, too, seemed confused. "There is no way to bring grains from the market, and there are no grains left at home," he said. "The problems are growing day by day."

He mentioned that there is nothing to buy in the nearby shops either. According to him, if the roads damaged by the flood and landslide are not reopened soon, the problems will become even worse.

The floods and landslides caused by the rain have cut off roads, electricity, and communication in three local municipalities in the southern part of Lalitpur. This has made rescue and relief efforts difficult, and daily life in these three municipalities has been disrupted. Significant damage has been seen in Mahankal, Konjyosom, and Bagmati rural municipalities. The local municipality chiefs have expressed complaints, saying they expected help from the central government during this disaster but have received none so far.

After facing transportation problems, locals have started a fundraising campaign to reopen the roads. They mentioned that the risks have increased due to the lack of electricity and road access. "Relying on the state hasn't helped, so we're raising funds ourselves to open the roads," said Bijay Kumar Singtan, the chairperson of Konjyosom-5. "Let’s see, somehow we must get the roads reopened."

According to him, in Bhardeu alone, four concrete houses and 13 mud houses were destroyed by landslides. He also mentioned that a woman from the same village died after being buried in the landslide.

He stated that there is a drinking water problem due to the pipes being washed away. According to him, the presence of dirty water has led to an increase in waterborne diseases.

"Ordinary people have started falling ill," he said. "So immediate arrangements for water management are necessary," he added.

Ordinary people are also facing difficulties in getting treatment. "My old house has collapsed, and the new house is at risk of landslides," says Anu Lopchan, who is taking her six year old son Aditya Lopchan for treatment. "We are caught between life and death," she said.

The general public is also facing issues with medical treatment. “My old house has collapsed, and the new house is at risk of landslides,” says Anu Lopchan. "She had scheduled a surgery at the hospital in Anandaban, but after the hospital was affected by a landslide, she mentioned that she headed towards Kathmandu. “I am walking and carrying my sick son,” she said, “Now let's see what happens next."

At first glance, many people consider Lalitpur to be an easily accessible district to live in. However, the suffering of the residents in the southern region is different. “Living in an easy district while experiencing a remote life is our unique pain,” said Karma Lopchan, “The state has neither been able to see our problems nor hear them."

"The chairperson of Konjyosom Rural Municipality, Krishna Man Lama, reported that the most damage occurred in the Thotne Khola, displacing 150 families due to the flooding. He also mentioned that the floods from the Nallu, Bhardeu, and Goti rivers have turned most of the land in this area into barren land. “The problems of the coming days seem even more terrifying than the current issues,” he said, “I hope the central government pays attention to this as well.”.

He expressed that it is even more painful not to receive support from the central government during such a disaster. “The support from the center should be during such calamities,” he said, “But we have not been able to receive that support so far.'"

As he mentioned, the 15 ropanis of farmland belonging to Som Gole in Bhardeu has turned into barren land. He reported that while he had harvested corn, he was unable to harvest soybean. “The mill for grinding that corn has also been washed away by the flood,” he said, highlighting the food crisis in this area. “We are surrounded by disasters from all sides,” he added.

Similarly, the chairperson of Mahankal Rural Municipality, Ganesh Bahadur KC, reported that along with immediate damage, the long-term damage is greater. “In addition to immediate relief, assistance with a long-term perspective is necessary, otherwise, this remote area of an easily accessible district will remain even more remote,” he said.

Due to the closure of the Lele-Chandanpur road and the medium-level local route, he mentioned that there are problems with transportation. “Common people have started falling ill, so immediate arrangements for water supply need to be made,” he said.

The chairperson of Bagmati Rural Municipality, Bir Bahadur Rai, reported that the blockage of the Kanti Highway has caused additional problems in relief and rescue efforts. With the water supply pipes also destroyed, the general public is facing difficulties. “We have not yet received a complete report of the damages,” he said, highlighting that due to the problems with telecommunications, the overall situation of the public has not been fully understood. He suggested that the central government should prioritize electricity, roads, and communication. “If this is done, it will open up paths for resolving the issues. Right now, it feels like we are under blockade,” he stated.

The Tika Bhairav area has also been significantly affected by the floods. Landslides in the forests of this region caused the highway to be blocked for four days. Bishnu Man Maharjan, the chairperson of Godawari Municipality-6, reported that the rising rivers have also damaged schools, police posts, and temples. “All the roads here are closed,” Maharjan said, “The road from Chapagaun to Tika Bhairav has been completely destroyed.” He said that things have become somewhat easier since the road reopened on Wednesday.

Stating that dozens of families in this area have been displaced due to landslides, Maharjan emphasized the need for immediate arrangements for temporary housing for them. “We are doing what we can to help ourselves, but it is essential for the central government to assist us as well,” he mentioned. 

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Binod Ghimire from the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, 44 people have died in Lalitpur due to floods and landslides. Additionally, the police reported that 1,563 houses have been affected by the floods and landslides, and 166 livestock have died. He stated that security personnel have already been deployed, and while rescue operations are ongoing, more details about the damage are yet to come.

“The situation is more terrifying than an earthquake”

The people of the southern region of Lalitpur are not only suffering from landslides but are also in a state of panic. Cut off from roads, electricity, and communication, they are worried about when another landslide might occur and threaten their lives.

“I wasn't this scared during the earthquake of 2015" said Bishal Tamang from Bhardeu. "Now, I only have the fear of when a landslide might bury me,” he said.

He said that they have had to stay away from communication due to the lack of electricity. “The most important thing is that the road needs to be opened,” he said. “Once the road is opened, electric poles will be installed, power supply will resume, mobile service will work, and we will have access to food,” he added.

Budhilal Singtan agrees with Bishal Tamang. He said that the current flooding has greatly affected them in Konjyosom-5. “We feel like we are trapped on a remote island,” he said. “We did not experience such problems even during the earthquake back then,” Singtan added. He expressed concern about when additional landslides might occur due to rainfall. “Many houses are still at risk and the general public is forced to stay here without any alternatives,” he said.

Ram Bahadur Lama, who has been making a living by transporting vegetables to the market, is also disheartened. He mentioned that the flood has buried the Bolero he purchased for Rs 1.4 million with a loan. He is unable to recover it. “Not only my house but also my vehicle has been buried,” he said. “It feels frustrating to stay here, and there’s no way to get out,” he further mentioned.

After running out of food at home, some people were seen carrying leftover vegetables towards Chapagaun. They appeared quite exhausted after walking for three hours. “We are heading to sell vegetables to buy rice,” said farmer Jeewan Singtan, who was encountered on the road. “Since the government aid hasn't reached here, we have had to go to the city ourselves,” Jeewan Singtan stated.