In Sunapati Rural Municipality-3 of Ramechhap, a massive landslide originating from Khani Khola has caused the ground to shift, putting around 90 households in four rural municipalities at high risk. Residents of Keurini, Saune, Nagasiva, and Chyamdung are still living in their settlements despite the danger. According to Ram Shrestha, a local from Saune, Sunapati-3, the landslide that began at Khani Khola has now spread up to Sunapati Danda. “This area had experienced landslides before. Last year, floods and landslides weakened the soil. Now, continuous rainfall on October 3, 4, and 5 has caused water channels to break everywhere, leading the soil to gradually wash away. As the ground shifts, houses in the settlements are beginning to crack and collapse,” he said. According to the Deputy Chairperson of the Rural Municipality, Gita Bista, the settlements in Saune and Keureni are at the highest risk and water channels have broken everywhere, and the soil is gradually shifting.
With around 90 households in the Hiledévi area now at high risk, the Rural Municipality-level Disaster Management Committee has begun monitoring the situation. According to the Chief Administrative Officer of the municipality, Suresh Kumar Shrestha, the main concern is in the settlements of Keureni, Saune, and Chyamdung in Ward No. 3. The landslide originating from Khani Khola, which flows downhill from these villages, has caused the soil to shift entirely, putting the upper settlements at risk.
According to Shrestha, the municipality-level Disaster Management Committee has formed a subcommittee under the coordination of Ward No. 3 Chairperson, Kulbahadur Thing. The subcommittee has already begun monitoring activities and is proceeding with the process of listing households at risk. Locals have urged the provincial and federal governments to provide immediate alternative housing and implement measures to reduce the risk. They warned that if action is delayed, the entire settlement could be washed away.
Nabaraj Pathik