DHANKUTA, July 27: Thirteen people from three families have gone missing while one has been injured following a landslide triggered by heavy downpour at Sikdin in Tamku-9 of Sankhuwasabha district on Sunday night.
The district witnessed heavy rainfall for the past two days following a long drought. The landslide began Sunday evening from both sides of the village and swept away houses of Lal Kumar Rai, Laxmi Prasad Rai, Rana Kumar Rai and Ash Kumar Rai.
Lal Kumar, his wife Laxmi Kumari, daughter Unnnati, son Harka and another minor are missing from Lal Kumar´s house. Laxmi Prasad, daughters Jasmati and Menuka, and sons Dhan Lal and Pushpa Lal went missing from Laxmi Prasad´s family. Wife Bandi Maya managed to escape with injuries in head and other parts of the body.
Similarly, Rana Kumar´s three sons have also reported missing in the landslide that swept away four of the 38 houses in the village, said Nanda Kuamar Rai, a local. The possibility of finding bodies is grim, locals said.
The family of Ash Kumar managed to escape and is currently taking refuge at a secure place along with 13 other families of the village.
A 10-men police rescue team led by inspector Prakash Sharma and another team from Tamku police post under a sub-inspector have been dispatched to the village that lies a day´s walking distance from the district headquarters Khandbari, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Poshraj Pokharel.
Similarly, different teams of Nepal Red Cross Society and political parties have also left the headquarters to assist the rescue operation that has been hindered by incessant rain.
Nine pilgrims swept away
Nine Bolbam pilgrims died after being swept away by flood while crossing the Kamala River on Monday, our Janakpur correspondent Suresh Kumar Yadav reported.
Among the dead are Ramchandra Mahato, 26, and Babita Kumari Sah, 14, of Maisthan-3, Mahottari; Ram Babu Mandal, 18, of Khayarmara; Umesh Ram, 16, of Fulkaha and Santosh Kumar, 14, of Bengdabar, Dhanusa. The other four are yet to be identified as their faces have been smashed beyond recognition by rocks.
Police recovered the bodies from the river seven kilometers down along the border of Dhanusha and Siraha districts. Police teams were mobilized immediately after being informed about the incident.
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