National
Bholiyani residents face double threat of flood, landslide
Bholiyani, a small riverside settlement in Malikarjun Rural Municipality-6 of Darchula district, is facing a double threat of flood and landslide which could force its residents out of their homes this monsoon.Manoj Badu
Bholiyani, a small riverside settlement in Malikarjun Rural Municipality-6 of Darchula district, is facing a double threat of flood and landslide which could force its residents out of their homes this monsoon.
The 18 families living on the edge of the Mahakali river have so far braved the onslaught of flood, but now they also have a landslide threat to contend with.
The ground on which the Bholiyani stands is losing its solidity, cracks have opened up both outdoors and inside people’s homes.
Fourteen households are at high risk of landslide, said Gopal Singh Dhami, the municipal ward chairman.
“The rain on Friday has made the situation worse. The people are afraid that a landslide could occur any time,” he said.
The fear of landslide has already prompted 10 families to move out of their homes. But since they have nowhere else to go, they are forced to camp outside their homes, without roofs over their heads.
“These people do not even have tarpaulin sheets to build makeshift shelters at a safe distance,” Dhami added.
Tula Magar and her family abandoned their home at Bholiyani four years ago.
She said they had to leave because of the constant threat of the Mahakali riverwaters sweeping away the settlement.
“We moved to our relative’s home, but there are several families in Bholiyani who have no place to go. The authorities concerned should relocate the settlement to a safe place before the disaster strikes,” she said.