LOGIN DASHBOARD

    News

    2 MIN READ

    Landslides continue to batter Sindhupalchok

    The Record, September 13, 2020, Kathmandu

    Landslides continue to batter Sindhupalchok

      Share this article

    Villages routinely get swept away in Nepal’s most landslide-prone district because locals, fed up with government apathy, are building settlements in risky locations

    (The Record)

    The locals of Bhirkharka and Nagpuje, in Baharabise Municipality, had never imagined that landslides would ravage their settlements as the area was considered much safer than the dozens of riskier settlements in Sindhupalchok District. They were also sure they were on safe ground because local authorities had not categorized their settlements as landslide-prone areas.

    Thus landslides probably never crossed their mind as the villagers turned in for the night on Saturday evening. But some of those villagers never woke up the next morning, and some are still buried under debris. And most of their neighbours woke up in the early hours of Sunday morning to loud crashing noises generated by the series of landslides that wiped out most homes in the villages.

    “Everything had been washed away when we woke up,” said Bir Bahadur Thapa, a local leader.

    The landslides, which resulted from the heavy downpour created by a cloudburst, first swept away the villagers’ rice fields before sweeping away large parts of Nagpuje and Bhirkharka villages, said Anil Pokhrel, Executive Chief of National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Authority.

    According to locals, the landslides occurred around 4 am. Those who remain buried were in deep sleep when their houses were swept away. “The situation there is really terrible. And it’s difficult to retrieve dead bodies because they are buried under piles of debris,” said Pokhrel.

    From early in the morning on Sunday, rescuers from security agencies and locals have been conducting rescue and relief operations. By the evening, they had retrieved the bodies of 11 locals, but at least 20 people still remain buried under the rubble.

    Apart from the loss of lives and property, 38 people from the landslide-hit villages and 250 households from neighbouring villages are now at risk of further landslides. “Providing immediate relief to the landslide-affected villagers and the locals of neighbouring villages now remains a major challenge,” said Pokhrel. 

    According to geologists, Sindhupalchok has turned into one of Nepal’s most landslide-prone areas of late, especially in the period after 2015’s devastating earthquakes. Although landslide prevalence was high in the district even before the earthquakes, more and more devastating landslides have been occurring recently there now. 

    About a month ago, three dozen people were buried alive in the village of Lidi. A total of 17 instances of major landslides have occurred in the district this year, according to the National Emergency Operation Center.

    In the aftermath of 2015’s earthquakes, seismic experts had recommended that many settlements in Sindhupalchok be relocated. But frustrated by bureaucratic red tape and lack of concrete relocation and livelihood plans, locals started to rebuild houses even in risky areas where the land had been destabilized by the quakes. 

    Today, because most quake-damaged houses in Sindhupalchok have been rebuilt, politicians representing the district have started to lobby for the creation of integrated settlements. “We need a comprehensive study about earthquake prevalence and plans for building safer buildings,” said Agni Prasad Sapkota, who reached the landslide-hit areas after the latest disaster. Sindupalchok is Sapkota’s constituency. “I will raise this issue with the prime minister as soon as I reach Kathmandu.”

    ::::::::



    author bio photo

    The Record  We are an independent digital publication based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Our stories examine politics, the economy, society, and culture. We look into events both current and past, offering depth, analysis, and perspective. Explore our features, explainers, long reads, multimedia stories, and podcasts. There’s something here for everyone.



    Comments

    Get the best of

    the Record

    Previous Next

    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

    COVID19

    Explainers

    3 min read

    WHO hasn’t approved any home remedy for COVID-19

    Deepak Adhikari - July 16, 2020

    A message circulating on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger claims that an Indian student from Pondicherry University has found a cure for COVID-19, and the "home remedy" has been approved by World Health Organization (WHO).

    Perspectives

    COVID19

    5 min read

    Fear not the Covid vaccines 

    Ramu Kharel - December 30, 2020

    A Nepali-American doctor in the US who has gotten vaccinated presents his thoughts on what Nepalis can expect from the vaccines that could be available here

    Features

    6 min read

    Nijgadh Airport to be Catastrophic for Nepal’s Tiger and Elephant Populations

    Ishita Shahi - March 18, 2019

    Conservationists believe that the habitat degradation will have an adverse impact on large mammals

    COVID19

    News

    4 min read

    Covid19 Roundup, 7 April: Oli defends govt, flight suspension extended & board exams postponed

    The Record - April 7, 2020

    A daily summary of Covid19 related developments that matter

    COVID19

    4 min read

    Fewer public vehicles, more commuters

    Aishwarya Baidar - January 28, 2022

    The odd-even rule re-introduced to restrict movement has quelled the number of vehicles on the roads, but commuters say it has only added to their woes.

    COVID19

    News

    3 min read

    Nepal struggling to protect its inmates from Covid-19

    Bhadra Sharma - August 14, 2020

    Preventing coronavirus spread in Nepal’s overcrowded jails is becoming near impossible

    Features

    3 min read

    How Everest was measured

    The Record - December 16, 2020

    The official height of Everest was determined through the use of high-tech instruments and with Nepali surveyors making the dangerous climb to the top of the mountain

    Features

    4 min read

    For the working class, more than health is at stake

    The Record - March 29, 2020

    The coronavirus is fast becoming a financial crisis that is set to have a disastrous impact on the wellbeing of the already marginalised

    • About
    • Contributors
    • Jobs
    • Contact

    CONNECT WITH US

    © Copyright the Record | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy