The Chambas settlement in Gajuri 2, Dhading, is at a risk of landslide after the land developed cracks due to haphazard extraction of slate, an initial study of the rural municipality has found.

The slate mine had been operating just below the Chambas settlement for the last 40 years.

According to locals, mine operators continuously used excavators and bulldozers which may have weakened the land.

After locals pressed the District Administration Office to stop the mining, the mine was closed six months ago. However, land in the settlement started to develop cracks due to incessant rains for the last one week.

Meena Tamang, a local, said 4 inch wide and 2 feet deep cracks appeared in the past week. “We are leaving our houses during monsoon due to the threat of landslide,” she said.

Locals have demanded that the rural municipal office shift their settlement to a safer location after their courtyard and farmland started developing cracks. There are 12 Tamang families living in the settlement.

Chairman of Gajuri Rural Municipality Rajendra Bikram Basnet said they are planning to relocate the Tamang settlement to a safer location.

“I will talk to the higher authorities about the matter,” said Basnet.

Prithvi Highway, one of Nepal’s busiest highways, will be also get blocked if landslides occur in Chambas area, locals say.