PALPA, September 25 (RSS):
Continuous and torrential downpours have triggered devastating landslides across Palpa district, wreaking havoc on infrastructure, collapsing homes, blocking vital transportation routes, and leaving one person missing.
According to local authorities, a massive landslide struck Golfan in Dhustung, Ribdikhot Rural Municipality-6, completely flattening two houses. DSP Bheemlal Bhattarai, Information Officer at the District Police Office, reported that mud and boulders cascading down from a newly constructed motor road situated directly above the residences—weakened by relentless rainfall—swept away the earthen homes of locals Kesuram Sarumagar and Rambahadur Uchai.
Casualties and Missing Person
While Rambahadur’s family of four managed to escape safely, tragedy struck Kesuram’s household. His 59-year-old wife, Krishna Kumari Saru, was swept away and is currently missing, though other members of his family survived unharmed.
Although the houses were completely destroyed, no livestock casualties were reported. Police noted that ongoing heavy rain and the continuous flow of debris from the road above have severely hampered immediate rescue operations. Search and rescue efforts for the missing woman are currently underway.
Road Disruption and Transportation Crisis
Along the Siddhartha Highway, falling rocks near the Lower Siddhababa Temple in Tinau Rural Municipality-3 and between Charchare and Jordhara in Tinau-5 completely blocked traffic for some time. Although debris was cleared to resume traffic, Superintendent of Police Bhattarai warned that landslides continue to threaten the route.
Furthermore, internal road networks—including the route connecting Batase in Ribdikhot-5 (Marabas and Bodi) to Rainadevi Chhahara Rural Municipality—remain entirely blocked. Major regional lifelines like the Tansen-Harthok-Chhahara road section have also faced complete traffic halts due to multiple blockages. Local resident Bhuwan Rayamajhi noted that debris falling near the Kusunkhola area along the Harthok-Batase road has severely crippled transportation services.
This widespread gridlock has caused immense hardship for commuters. Emergency vehicles, including ambulances carrying patients and dairy trucks transporting milk from rural areas to urban hubs, remain stranded on the roads. The disruption in transporting perishable goods has hit local farmers and business owners hard. While local administration and related agencies are striving to clear the debris, continuous rainfall is heavily slowing down progress.
Night Travel Ban Imposed
In light of heightened flood and landslide risks, night travel has been officially prohibited along the Dobhan-Siddhababa section of the Siddhartha Highway. The District Administration Office of Palpa has banned all vehicular movement on this route from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM, effective from Thursday through Monday
