Kaski landslide toll reaches 34

POKHARA, July 31

The death toll from yesterday’s landslide at Lumle in Kaski has climbed to 27, as eight more bodies were found on Friday, while one person is still missing in the VDC, where 19 deaths were reported due to landslides yesterday.

With this, the total number of persons who have lost their lives in the landslide occurrences in the district has reached 34.

Landslides had also killed five persons in Bhadaure and two in Dhikur Pokhari yesterday.

According to spokesman for Kaski District Police Office DSP Kedar Rajaure, bodies of Shiyodhari Devkota, 81, Indra Prasad Devkota, 68, Rudrawati Devkota, 61, Laxmi Devkota, 55, Partati Devkota, 25, Sabita Poudel, 9, Sabin Devkota, 6, and a five-month-old infant Anjila Sherpa of Majhghar, Lumle, were recovered on Friday. Kabita Sherpa, 5, however, is still missing.

Those missing in landslide in Bhadaure have been identified as Bishwa Parajuli, Samir Parajuli, Man Bahadur Sunar and Kismat Sunar.

Meanwhile, 18 bodies found in Lumle were cremated as per Hindu rituals on Friday. Last rites were performed on the body of Tshering Sherpa as per Buddhist tradition, while bodies of Anju Sunar and her four-month baby were handed over to their kin from Bhimad, Tanahun. Anju’s maternal house was in Lumle.

On Thursday, a landslide had struck Lumle’s Majhghar village, destroying 10 houses at about 1:00am when most villagers were asleep and could not escape.

Forty-eight families of landslide victims in Lumle and Bhadaure have got immediate relief from District Natural Disaster Committee and Nepal Red Cross Society. According to Chief District Officer Krishna Bahadur Rawat, the families of deceased in Lumle, Bhadaure and Dhikur Pokhari each have been provided with Rs 40,000 for funeral expenses, besides Rs 5,000 as immediate relief amount.

Meanwhile, vehicular movement has been disrupted since floods induced by Wednesday’s rainfall swept away five bridges connecting Ramagi, Chapakot and Kaskikot. However, traffic on Pokhara-Baglung highway that was blocked due to landslides resumed partially this afternoon.