Landslides Displace Eight Families in Okhaldhunga, Destroy Two Houses in Taplejung, and Threaten Nine More Homes

  August 15, 2024 By: INSEC

Disasters have struck Taplejung and Okhaldhunga with the arrival of the monsoon on June 10 in Koshi Province. In Taplejung, landslides have destroyed two houses. According to INSEC Taplejung District Representative Elina Diyali, a landslide in Paktanglung Rural Municipality-6 not only swept away two houses but also destroyed the 81-meter-long bridge over the Ghunsa River, which is a key route to the Kanchenjunga Base Camp. Pembatasi Sherpa, the Ward Chairperson of Paktanglung Rural Municipality-6, noted that the disaster also damaged a house where Chringthakche Sherpa operated a hotel. Fortunately, there were no casualties as Chringthakche and his son were not home at the time. On August 15, at 2 am, the landslides continued, further disrupting the movement of people in the area.

According to Saraswati Baniya, the representative of Okhaldhunga, landslides have displaced eight families from Saune in Molung Rural Municipality-1 and Lipekhola in Ward-2. Additionally, nine households in Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-1, Ambot, are at risk. Mahendra BK’s house in Saune is particularly threatened by the landslides, prompting the BK’s family to seek refuge in their son’s home for safety. Likewise, the families of Tara Baniya, Bhagwati Karki, and Geeta Karki in Lipekhola have been displaced after mud and stones fell into their homes. Similarly, Kanta Karki, Ganesh Karki, and Nanimaiya Karki from Pakha have also been forced to relocate due to the landslide. DSP Krishna Khadka from the District Police Office reported that Premkumari Shrestha’s house in the same ward is also at risk from landslides.

The landslide also damaged the house of 50-year-old Bishnu Bahadur Basnet in Khijidemba Rural Municipality-8 Rawadoluka. DSP Khadka reported that the landslide buried the house along with Basnet’s son. Additionally, nine families in Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-1 Ambot are at high risk of landslides.

Madankumar Rai, a local, reported that the Rural Municipality is at high risk of landslides due to continuous rain, which has caused landslides in various parts of Aaitabare Pakha above the Rural Municipality. Rai mentioned that landslides occurred at four locations in Pakha due to the rain. He noted that the land above the settlement area is cracked and landslides are ongoing.


INSEC Koshi Province Office, Biratnagar