Khem Raj Shahi, 20, and Hari Lal Shahi, 45, of Tamti VDC-7 were found dead in the woods in a remote village, said Chief District Officer Hari Pyakurel. [break]
According to Pyakurel, they had gone into the woods to tend sheep, goats and mares Tuesday night. But they could not return home as they were held up by stormy weather, which led to a sharp decline in temperatures throughout the night. Locals recovered the bodies from the woods on Wednesday after the storm subsided.
Around 350 head of cattle that the two men were tending were swept away by a massive landslide caused by the rain.
“All the sheep, goats and mares swept away by the landslide were owned by the locals of Tamti, Haku and Kudari VDCs," said Pyakurel. In Tamti VDC, which is about 18 kilometers north of district headquarters, there was incessant rain since Sunday.
After learning about the incident, the district police office deployed a team from its Kudari post, which is some three hours´ walk from Tamti VDC. Similarly, the district veterinary office has sent a veterinary officer to Tamti VDC to examine the cattle killed in the landslide.
Similarly, landslide also destroyed three watermills owned by one Janak Raut of Tamti VDC. The landslide has destroyed Madhu Shankar Upadhyay´s house in nearby Birat VDC and displaced his family.
According to CDO Pyakurel, streams swollen by the rains have swept away six wooden bridges and inundated Netra Jyoti Secondary School in Haku VDC. Jajwolyaman Neupane, principal of the school, said they have been unable to conduct classes as the school because of the flooding.
Meanwhile, the district-level relief and rescue committee on Wednesday decided to distribute relief packages to all the victims.
Rescue packages will be distributed immediately to Malikathota, Ghode Mahadev, Gothichowr, Tamti, Patamara, Kutari, Sanigaun, Mahabai and Birat VDCs, informed Pyakurel.
“We will set up an information desk and keep ambulances on stand-by,” he said.
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