The debris that came down from a nearby hillock completely destroyed the huts and shops. The incident site is around 55 kilometres away from the district headquarters.

Baburaja Shrestha, treasurer of Dolakha Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that teams of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force started rescue operation right after the incident. The deceased have been identified as Pemdoma Tamang, 37, of Shyama VDC and her 17-year-old daughter Phurlomu, 12-year-old Susma Sunuwar of Jiri VDC and her five-year-old Sujal Jirel.

The injured—Kirtiman Jirel and Gunakumari Jirel, father and mother of deceased Sujal, deceased Pemdoma’s husband Angdawa Tamang and son Swayam, Gunja Bahadur Khadka of Ramechhap and his wife Jasmaya, Sanglamu Sherpa of Mali Ghonsa and her children Angphuti and Angnima-are being treated in Jiri Hospital, police said.

“I was asleep with my husband and children. Then all of a sudden, I heard a big bang all of a sudden and felt something hit our house,” said the distraught Gunakumari from her hospital bed. “We cried for help and were rescued after two hours. However, our children perished in the disaster.”  

Meanwhile, acting Chief District Officer Madhav Prasad Adhikari, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Suresh Prasad Kafle distributed Rs 40,000 to each deceased’s family on Saturday while the injured are provided with treatment for free.