23 missing in Bajhang landslide

BAJHANG: The number of people missing in the landslide that occurred at Dikhla of Thalara Rural Municipality-4 in Bajhang district on Tuesday morning has reached 23.

Among the missing ones, 18 were from Gagane Sarki's family while five were from Nare Sarki's family. Gagane Sarki is currently in India for employment while his second eldest son Kale Sarki remained safe. 

Those missing from Gagane's family were Harku, Dhangiri, Sita, Prabash, Bhumika, Chiranjivi, Issara, Sanjeev, Sabita, Saroj, Sharmila, Pampa, Subash, Bikash. Madan Kaludevi and Alisha Sarki, local teachers have been missing in the disaster. The identity of one from Gagane's family is yet to be ascertained. 

Similarly, those missing from Nare Parki's family were Ujali, Ayush, Hima and Sima and Nare himself. 

The rain-triggered landslide at Dhogdinaa in the district displaced over 100 households from two villages (upper Dikhla and lower Dikhla) and buried seven houses. The displaced ones were currently housed at Tribhuvan Secondary School at Mahendradhar, according to Madan Bahadur Saud, a local teacher. 

Saud shared that a landslide occurred at 4 am while everyone was asleep. Some ran away to safety while many went missing. The rain had not stopped in those areas yet. 

He added, "Since the road leading to the accident site was inconvenient and Jaya Prithivi Highway was interrupted, no concerned agencies' representatives have been able to reach the accident site."

Communication services have been disrupted in the mountainous districts in Sudurpaschim Province due to which details of the incidents could not be garnered. 

Floods in the local rivers have obstructed the roads and poor communication networking in the affected areas have led to difficulty in search and relief operation, said DSP at the District Police Office in Bajhang, Rupak Khadka.