Landslide threat forces villagers to flee
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KHANDBARI, SEP 15 -
The family of Tularam Kulung left their home in Tamku VDC-9 in Sankhuwasabha and moved to the district headquarters of Khadbari. They seem to have thought of the adage that goes—a stitch in time saves nine.
Kulung was forced to leave his village with his wife and three children fearing that a landslide could sweep away their house anytime.
A landslide in the VDC two years ago had claimed 13 lives and displaced more than 200 people.
“As long as the monsoon remains, it is better to live outside the village,” 35-year-old Kulung said. His village is at high risk of landslides. He said 180 families in the village have been living in the landslide zone and that all of them have either moved to Khadbari or shifted to houses of their relatives.
“It has been raining continuously in Tamku, triggering landslides in different places. Thousands of people in the VDC could be affected if the government does not do something immediately to move them to safer places,” Kulung said.
Bala VDC Secretary Netra Bahadur Shrestha said Bala, Sishuwakhola, Yafu and Mastewa VDCs in the district are also under the threat of landslides. “Relocating these families to safer places is the only option. A disaster is certain if that is not done,” he said. At least 58 families of Sishuwakhola VDC were displaced during last year’s monsoon. Many poor families who rely on subsistence farming for survival cannot leave their homes and go outside the village.
Tek Bahadur Kulung and his family of seven also moved to the district headquarters to escape the landslide threat.
Posted on: 2011-09-15 09:14
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