The Palpa-Nawalparasi road along the Kaligandaki river is obstructed due to the landslides for the last one month.

The 166 km stretch between Argali in Palpa and Gaidakot in Nawalparasi is strewn with debris left behind by landslides. Only 35 km of the road has been opened for one-way traffic in the last 15 days, according to Palpa police.

Agraj Bhandari, a resident of Hungi village, said massive landslides have occurred in places like Pipaldanda, Hungi, Gejha, and Rampur.

Only small vehicles can travel through the road that was reopened after landslides, he added.

Maheshwor Aryal, secretary of Bakamalang VDC, said the road has been completely shut, causing hardship for travellers.

In Nawalparasi, landslides have occurred in places like Bulingtar, Dedgaun, Machedi.

Ram Prasad Subedi, of Kaligandaki Corridor Project, said the road expansion work of this year had made the region all the more vulnerable to landslides.

Meanwhile, continuous rainfall is hampering the effort to clear the landslides.

Subedi said the road will be reopened for two-way traffic only after the monsoon is over.

For now, he said, they were planning to reopen the road for one-way traffic.

Thousands of families at flood, landslide risk

Giru Prasad Bhandari (Pyuthan)

Thousands of families in Bagdula, Bijuwar, Bahane, Macchi, Baraula and Jumri villages of Pyuthan are at high risk of floods and landslides.

Heavy rainfall in the district this year has already caused several landslides and floods, killing at least 50 people. And it seems that the disaster is not over yet, as large cracks have developed above many settlements perched on hillside.

Govinda Karki, of Pyuthan Municpality-4, said massive landslides could occur in case there is a heavy rainfall.

In some places, he said, there is a high possibility of landslides blocking rivers and streams, which could cause floods.

People living in vulnerable areas are praying that this monsoon does not bring more rain.

Lal Bahadur Oli, of District Soil Conservation Office, said construction of roads in hilly terrain without proper study and planning has led to the dangers of landslides and floods in many parts of the district.

Ramechhap parched in monsoon

Tika Prasad Bhatta (Ramechhap)

There is a drinking water scarcity in several parts of Ramechhap due to low rainfall in the district this monsoon.

Water sources have dried up in many villages which has forced people to walk a long distance every day to fetch just a potful of water, said Ramdas Waiba, of Rampur VDC.

He added that a majority of water sources in Rampur and neighbouring VDCs had dried up after the devastating earthquake of April 2015.

The villagers were expecting that this year’s monsoon would fill the water sources, but the district did not get enough rain this year.

“We had never faced such situation before,” said Uddhav Prasad Ghimire, of Ramechhap Municipality.

The water scarcity has also hit Bhaluwajor, Bhirpani, Pakarbas, Majhuwa, Rakathum, Sukajor, Sunarpani, Manthali, Bhatauli, Gelu and Khaniyapani.

Parshuram Khatri, of Bhirpani, said they could not water their farm because of low rainfall this year. “Local streams are almost dry. Our crops could die without water,” he said.

Lok Bahadur Chaulagain  at Drinking Water and Sanitation Division Office, said they were planning to pump out water from Tamakoshi River and distribute it to the villages.