Bajura, August 18

Dozens of settlements in three different VDCs of Bajura are at high risk of erosion due to flood triggered by rainfall in the Budhiganga and Gaigard rivers.

Locals at Kailashmandau, Kuldevmandau and Brahmatola VDCs said that their settlements were at high risk of erosion as the rivers have been eroding their lands every year.

Settlements in Pantali, Kalapani of Kailashmandau, Basali of Brahmatola and Belkatya, Phalasain and Nimani of Kuldevmandau VDCs have been at risk of erosion for the past ten to twelve years due to floods in the rivers.

A local of Kailashmandau Naresh Thapa said that as many as 150 households have been living in fear after the Budhiganga and Guigard rivers eroded their land.

“The rivers are approaching our human settlement; we don’t know when they will sweep away the whole village,” he added.

Similarly, locals of Belkataya, Phalasain, and Nimani in Kuldevmandau have been living in fear for the past seven or eight years.

The locals shift to safer places when the monsoon starts.

The locals said that no initiatives have been taken although they had contacted the District Development Committee and the District Disaster Rescue Committee repeatedly.

Meanwhile, the District Disaster Rescue Committee said that Guiban of Gudukhati, Pipaldali of Badhu, Juwapani of Bahrabisa, Bajedi of Brahmatola, Gumlagain of Aantichaur, among other human settlements, are at high risk of landslides.