Lanslides displace 41 households

DAILEKH: Forty-one households of different VDCs of Dailekh district have been rendered homeless after torrential downpour for the past couple of weeks destroyed their houses.

According to the police, 25 houses of Narayan Municipality, three in Jagannath VDC, 10 in Chauratha VDC and three in Bhairikalikathum VDC, had been pulled down by heavy rain. The police informed that most of the displaced were sheltering in their relatives' houses. Property worth over Rs 70 lakh was destroyed in the disaster, Inspector Sunil Malla said. The local residents had their food items and clothes damaged and livestock killed.

Meanwhile, the displaced demanding compensation and relief are queuing up in front of the District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee to file their applications.

"We could not file our applications as the VDC secretaries are absent and we need their recommendation," Surendra Shahi, a victim said.

The landslide has also obstructed Dailekh-Surkhet section of the road as landslides occurred in several points of the section within the past few days. Vehicular movement has virtually come to a standstill due to the landslides in Dhungeshwor, Matela, Talpokhari, Satsalli and Guranse, said CDO Baldev Gautam. Due to the obstruction of traffic, the supply of daily essentials has been hampered.

"Though we repair the road with bulldozers every year, the problem persists due to recurring landslides in the area in the rainy season," Rana Bahadur Thapa of Sapana Construction, said. Meanwhile, Laxman Shrestha, chairman of Dailekh Chambers of Commerce and Industries warned of shortage of food materials in the district if the road was not cleared within acouple of days. He added food supplies have been halted due to the obstruction of the road.