MYAGDI: At least five persons have gone missing after a dry landslide struck the base of Mt Annapurna South at Narchyang VDC – 1 of Myagdi district of western Nepal on Monday night.

It has been learned that Tak Bahadur Thajali, Sher Bahadur Thajali, Dil Bahadur Thajali of Lek Gaun, Narchyang-5; Hukum Pun of Narchyang-6, and Tar Bahadur Phagami of Narchyang-4 have gone out of contact after the landslide.

The landslide that started since midnight has released a huge cloud of dust affecting the general life in Narchyang, Dana, Bhurung, Tatopani, Shik, Ghar and Dowa VDCs of Myagdi district.

The rescue teams from the Nepal Army and Nepal Police have not yet reached the incident site due to lack of road, said Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bishworaj Khadka.

The five persons had gone to a jungle at the base of Mount Annapurna South to collect bamboo on Monday afternoon.

Locals have not been able to come out of their houses due to the dust while schools too have been affected, DSP Khadka informed.

Tej Bahadur Gurung, Principal of the Prabha Secondary School, said that the locality had witnessed a massive landslide 40 years ago which had buried livestock and sheepherders.

The area is located near the source of the Dhlemdi River.

The river has been blocked following the landslide, said Narchyang VDC Secretary Dirgha Prasad Gautam.