Landslide and Flood Incidents Increase in Bajura Due to Continuous Rain

Dhangadhi. Landslide and flood incidents have started increasing in Bajura with continuous rain. 16 households have been affected after a river was blocked in the Selagad area of Badimalika Municipality-9 and water entered the settlement, while landslides have blocked roads in various parts of the district.

According to Police Inspector Naresh Shahi, Information Officer at the District Police Office Bajura, water entered the settlement due to floods and landslides from above in the Selagad area around 4:35 AM on Friday. Upon receiving the information, a team from the District Police Office and the Armed Police Force reached the scene.

According to the police, by 5:30 AM, with the help of police, armed police, and locals, the affected families were moved to safe locations, and belongings such as clothes, utensils, food grains, and other items from inside the houses were transferred to safe places.

Out of the 16 affected households, 3 households are at high risk, and 13 households are at risk. 22 people reside in the three houses at high risk. The police stated that 83 members are in the other 13 households at risk.

During the incident, the 30-year-old wife of local Prem Thapa fainted out of fear. She was immediately taken to the Bajura District Hospital by the police team for treatment. She has been discharged after treatment. There has been no other human or livestock loss in the incident.

 According to Information Officer Police Inspector Naresh Shahi, the houses are not in a condition to be directly washed away by landslides. According to him, the damage occurred because the river was blocked and water entered the settlement. The belongings of the affected families have now been moved to safe places, and continuous monitoring is being done as three houses are at high risk.

Due to these landslides, the Tottke irrigation canal in Rapka, Badimalika Municipality-8, has also been damaged. The police stated that approximately 230 meters of plastic pipe and 25 meters of concrete canal have been washed away.

Meanwhile, around 5:35 AM, the Sanphebagar-Martadi road section was completely blocked by a landslide from above in the Jadanga area of Badimalika Municipality-6. A police team led by Police Inspector Sagar Shamsher Jabra reached the scene and started clearing the landslide with the help of a bulldozer from the Road Division Office. The police stated that the road up to Martadi is being gradually cleared, and vehicles are not getting stuck in long jams.

According to the police, with the activation of the monsoon, landslides continue to occur daily on various roads in Bajura. Especially on the Martadi-Sanphebagar road section, landslides occur in four to five places. In risky areas, police have been deployed to clear the roads, and if necessary, traffic is stopped for some time, and then allowed to operate only after it is safe.

The police have been conducting public awareness programs in settlements at high risk of floods and landslides, urging citizens to stay in safe places, avoid risky areas, and remain vigilant during disasters.

Although it rained continuously throughout the night, the weather has shown some improvement since Friday morning.  As there is a possibility of further rain, locals have been requested to exercise special caution in areas near rivers and those at risk of landslides.