14 more bodies recovered in Taplejung landslides

Body count reaches 35

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TAPLEJUNG, June 12: With 14 more bodies recovered on Friday, the total number of bodies recovered from the landslide-hit villages of Taplejung district has reached 35, according to the District Disaster Relief Committee (DDRC).

While the DDRC has confirmed 35 deaths in six different VDCs following the recovery of the bodies, the authorities do not have an exact figure for those missing. Nor has the DDRC collected details concerning the missing.

As per the DDRC, over two dozens locals are missing in the affected areas following the massive landslides triggered by incessant rainfall in the western part of the district on Wednesday night.

The affected VDCs are Khokling, Liwang, Santhakra, Thinglabu, Lingtep and Khamlung. Among these, Liwang is the hardest hit in terms of casualties.

However, the locals assume that the landslide death toll has mounted to over 55 as of Friday evening. According to them, the dead include 27 in Liwang, 10 in Khokling, 12 in Santhakra, 5 in Lingtep, and 15 in Thinglabu.

Naren Okhrabu, a local, said that 15 bodies have been recovered from Thinglabu. The local administration has confirmed the recovery of nine bodies.

Okhrabu has urged the local administration to disseminate exact figures on the dead and missing, in consultation with the locals.

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer (CDO) Damaru Prasad Niraula, who is also coordinator for the DDRC, informed that teams of security personnel deployed in the landslide hit areas will verify the higher figures for casualties claimed by the locals.

"It's better for us to work with the locals to collect the details of casualties and missing," CDO Niraula said, acknowledging local feelings

He added that proper coordination among security teams deployed at the sites, the Red Cross and the locals is a must.