Two settlements in Humla at high risk of flood, landslide

Published On: July 30, 2023 04:38 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

SIMKOT, July 30: Two villages in Sarkegad Rural Municipality in Humla district are at high risk of floods and landslides due to the incessant rainfall since three weeks. Ripa at Sarkegad Rural Municipality-2 is at the risk of landslide while Rahadeu which falls in Ward No 8 of the same rural municipality is at the risk of both floods and landslides.

Massive flooding and landslides triggered by continuous rains around the village on July 28 have further increased the risk of landslides, said a local Bhakti Phadera. Phadera narrated that mudslides are taking place at various locations in the area and that the locals are stranded on an island.

He lamented that more than 500 residents of the village face being buried by landslides if they are not evacuated early.

"We are living on an 'island'. There is mudflow around the village. There is no place to move out from the island. Power lines, the water source and our crops in the fields have all been swept away by the flood," he said of the damage caused by the flood and landslides, adding that the only things left are the houses and their residents.

Daljeet Karki, another local, shared that the villagers have been staying out in the open with hungry stomachs for the last two days due to the fear of more flooding and landslides.

"We have requested the bodies concerned for rescue, but no rescue and relief has come to us so far," said Siddha Karki, the Ward No 2 Chair.

He said the landslides and floods have damaged 50,000 hectares of arable land and settlement areas. The bridges over Ripagad and Lipnejhola streams have been completely damaged, halting people's movement. Karki, the Ward Chair, said the hydropower project in the Ripagad Khola has been damaged. Water supply structures, communication infrastructure and school buildings have also been damaged, affecting the daily life of the people.

Deepak Malla, spokesperson for the District Police Office, informed Republica that flood and landslide at Ripa and Sarkedeu villages have caused damage to physical properties and crops. According to him, although no human casualties have been reported, micro-hydel projects, roads and houses have been damaged due to the natural disasters.

(RSS)