Residents who were displaced due to the landslide that occurred on the night of 24 August in Lekhark of Doramba Shailung Rural Municipality-3, Tokarpur of Ramechhap are facing problems of accommodation. In the landslide, seven people lost their lives, and three people are missing. The landslide has displaced 63 families, most of whom belong to the marginalized Pahari community.
The locals, displaced due to the fear of landslides, are taking shelter in various houses in Tokarpu. After the landslide, the victims were accommodated in three classrooms at Kantheshwar Secondary School Tokarpur for two days. When 143 people were housed together in three rooms, they began searching for empty houses in the village due to issues such as lack of drinking water and inadequate toilet facilities. Kabita Pahari, who is one month pregnant, said that nine pregnant women and mothers with children are now living in one house. She expressed that staying in someone else’s home with a small child is very challenging. Additionally, it is also difficult for new mothers, women, children, and senior citizens to live in such a small space. As the male members of the displaced families are in Kathmandu for employment, most of the shelter seekers are women, children, and senior citizens. According to Tul Prasad Kandel, a ward member of Doramba Shailung Rural Municipality-3, their situation is tough. Kandel said that due to ongoing rain and landslides in many areas of the Rural Municipality, the locals will likely be unable to return to their homes for at least a month.
Although the Rural Municipality is searching for a place for temporary accommodation for the victims, a suitable location has not yet been finalized, according to Mainakumar Moktan, Chairperson of the Rural Municipality. There is no clear timeline for when the Rural Municipality will find a location, build housing, and provide safe accommodation for the displaced victims.