“We had to sleep at a neighbour’s house as we could not risk our lives,” said 63-year-old Krishna Prasad Devkota. “Police have also instructed us to stay away from risk-prone areas till late September.”

One person from the village is still missing. The landslide also swept off a drinking water tank above the village, causing a water shortage. Electricity supply has been disrupted while the road leading to the village has been blocked. The landslide killed 40 cattle but since all efforts are concentrated on finding the missing, nothing has been done for the animals.

A total of 34 people lost their lives in the district in the landslides. According to police, apart from 27 deaths in Lumle, five people from Badhaure Tamagi and two from Dhikur Pokhari also died. Among the dead, are 11 children, 16 women and seven men. Five people are still missing in Bhadaure. Police said search operation was still underway. The 14 people injured from the three VDCs are receiving treatment in Pokhara.

Meanwhile, mass cremation was conducted on Friday for 18 of the deceased on the banks of Modi Khola. Funeral of four other victims were held on the banks of the Dhoti Khola as per Buddhist traditions.

“All the villagers are mourning this devastating loss of our friends and families,” said Khim Chhettri, a local.

UCPN (Maoist) leader Khimlal Devkota, who attended the funeral, demanded rehabilitation of the displaced. The government should learn a lesson from the incident in Lumle, which receives the highest rainfall in the country, he added.

House seeks rescue effort details

KATHMANDU

The Legislature-Parliament on Friday directed the government to furnish details on the efforts made to rescue landslide victims and provide them relief aid.

Following concerns from lawmakers, Speaker Subas Nembang directed the government to present a report in the next meeting of Parliament. He also asked the government to come up with a relocation plan for the displaced people. Cross-party lawmakers had drawn the attention of the government on the problems faced by the people in three VDCs in the district. The government decided on Thursday to provide Rs40,000 for the last rite of each deceased and Rs100,000 in compensation for the bereaved family. Rs15,000 has been extended for temporary settlement of the displaced people. Lawmakers complained that the victims had not got the monetary help. (PR)