PANCHTHAR, Oct 13: Two months ago landslides wreaked havoc in Falelung Rural Municipality. Four people were swept away by the landslides, of which bodies of two are still missing. Over 100 families were reported to have become homeless. People lost their cattle and crops to the disaster. Locals state that they have never suffered such a disaster. 

They feel that such landslides have been triggered by the use of excavators and dozers to open road tracks in the hill. “The excess landslides these days are due to the road construction. While opening new tracks, use of dozer is just natural. However, careless use of it or the lack of proper study beforehand brings serious consequences,” noted Shiva Raj Pant, Battalion Commander of Bhairabi Dal. “Such landslides were not visible here in the past,” he added. 

Pant was of the opinion that the settlements which are under risk due to the landslides must be relocated to safer places and warned that not doing so might be disastrous in the days ahead. 
“We have been stationed in this area for a long period of time. And we have been observing activities around very carefully. Landslides have increased in the recent time and more and more settlements are becoming risky,” he said. 

Madan Rai, local of Falelung village agrees. He said that only his village but many other villages across the district are under high risk of landslides. “Wherever road tracks have been made, hills have become weak. It feels like the hills will fall down anytime.”

 
• haphazard road construction
 
• landslides