77 families in Ramechhap seek relocation amid landslide risk

MANTHALI: A total of 77 families in Sunapati Rural Municipality of Ramechhap district are at high risk of landslides.

Residents of four settlements in Ward-3 of the municipality have demanded immediate relocation to a safer place after the landslide began pulling the entire settlement downhill.

The residents of Keureni, Saune, Nagasiba and Chyamdung settlements in Sunapati–3 are in danger of displacement. The area had been experiencing minor landslides for a long time, but continuous rainfall in the first week of October worsened the situation for them.

Several houses have already collapsed as the landslide continues to drag the settlement downward, while many others have developed large cracks and are on the verge of collapse. Even though it has been nearly two days since the rain stopped, the landslide has not subsided. The mass movement of earth is gradually pushing the entire settlement lower each day.

Sunapati Rural Municipality Vice-chairperson Gita Bista said the process of relocating affected families to a safer area has begun, and preparations are also being made to provide some relief funds.

As houses continue to slide toward the Khanikhola stream, victims have urged authorities to immediately arrange temporary shelters in safe locations. “It is no longer possible to live in this area, so we request immediate shelter arrangements and permanent relocation of the entire settlement to a safe location,” said Sita Khadka, a victim.

Although the local government has urged residents not to stay in the landslide-prone area at night, many victims have no alternative place to go and are compelled to remain there.

Min Bahadur Khatri, a local resident, said the area was listed as a landslide-prone zone as early as the late 1970s.