HUMLA, JULY 30

Relentless rainfall over the past three weeks has put two villages in Humla district at great risk of flood and landslide.

Ripa, situated in Ward No 2 of Sarkegad Rural Municipality, faces the danger of landslide, while Rahadeu, located in Ward No 8 of the same rural municipality, is vulnerable to both flood and landslide.

The situation worsened on July 28 when heavy flooding and landslides struck the vicinity, exacerbating the peril for residents.

Bhakti Phadera, a local, expressed concern that mudslides were occurring in multiple areas, isolating the inhabitants like on an island.

With the threat of more landslides looming, over 500 villagers are at risk of being buried under debris if they fail to evacuate promptly.

The impact of floods and landslides has been severe. Residents have lost access to essential resources, as the floodwaters swept away power lines, water sources, and crops in the fields. Only the houses and their occupants remain, struggling to survive the aftermath of the natural calamity.

The situation has left the affected population in dire straits. Daljeet Karki, another local, mentioned that fear of further flooding and landslides had forced the villagers to remain out in the open, enduring hunger for the past two days. They have appealed for rescue and relief, but assistance has not yet reached them.

The damage caused by the floods and landslides extends beyond the villages. Over 50 thousand hectares of arable land and settlement areas have been affected.

Critical infrastructure such as the bridges over Ripagad and Lipnejhola streams have been completely destroyed, cutting off people's movement.

Additionally, the hydropower project in Ripagad Khola and various water supply structures, communication infrastructure, and school buildings have suffered extensive damage, severely disrupting daily life. While no human casualties have been reported so far, physical properties and crops have incurred significant damage. Micro-hydel projects, roads, and houses have been seriously affected by the natural disaster.

A version of this article appears in the print on July 31, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.