Myagdi, November 4 (Kartik 18):

A geological study of landslide-prone areas has been conducted in Jaljala Rural Municipality of Parbat district, which is adjacent to Beni Bazaar—the headquarters of Myagdi—following the recent monsoon-induced disasters. A team of geologists, local representatives, and technicians from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) studied the settlements damaged and at risk due to landslides.

According to Jaljala Rural Municipality Vice-Chairperson Deepak Acharya, a team comprising geologists Suman Pandey and Sandesh Regmi studied the landslides in Farse, Kirakhor, Khanigaon, and Tangwang on Tuesday. “Today, we will study the landslides in the Kerabari, Pulchowk, and Bhedabari areas,” he said. “The Authority sent the team of geologists based on the rural municipality’s request and the District Disaster Management Committee’s recommendation, with the objective of identifying further risks in disaster-affected settlements”.

Vice-Chairperson Acharya stated that reconstruction work will be advanced based on the recommendations of the geological study report. The team conducted on-site inspections of damaged and at-risk settlements, collected audio-visual materials including stone and soil samples and drone camera photos, and held discussions with affected locals. He informed that due to floods in the Kali Gandaki River and landslides following heavy rainfall from Ashwin 8 to 11, 316 houses were damaged in Jaljala.

Rural Municipality Chairperson Raju Prasad Acharya stated that preliminary details show 126 houses were completely destroyed, 50 houses suffered partial damage, and 140 houses remain at high risk. He noted that floods and landslides caused unimaginable damage not only to private residences but also to arable land with food crops like millet, paddy, and orange orchards, as well as infrastructure built for roads, drinking water, irrigation, and settlement protection.

According to Chairperson Acharya, the highest impact was in Farse, Jaljala Rural Municipality-8, along the Kali Gandaki, where 75 houses were washed away and 27 houses are at risk. Farse was followed by impacts in Tangwang and Khanigaon of Ward No. 7. Floodwaters from the Kali Gandaki also entered Lamakhet in Ward No. 4, causing damage.

Chairperson Acharya stated that 35 families were displaced from Tangwang and Khanigaon due to the landslides. He mentioned that the arrangement of basic relief materials and short-term and long-term rehabilitation action plans are being advanced in the affected areas.

RSS