Landslides and floods isolate Sankhuwasabha villages, force residents to flee homes

Continuous heavy rainfall has devastated Silichong Rural Municipality in Nepal's Sankhuwasabha district, triggering landslides and floods that have isolated several settlements and forced residents to abandon their homes. The relentless downpour over the past three days has rendered all roads and local trails impassable, severing ground access to the municipal center and disrupting essential services. Two locally operated micro-hydropower projects have been destroyed, and Kalika Secondary School in ward 1 faces a serious risk, necessitating its relocation.

Residents from Teenchong, Hoyeṅla, Chepchhewa, Newatar, Yangsim, and Gogane have sought shelter in safer areas, fearing further damage from the escalating rainfall. The disruption extends to government service delivery, with electricity, internet, and communication services down. Even payments for completed development projects have been halted. This situation echoes a similar disaster in 2020, when floods and landslides displaced 97 households in Sisuwakhola, with some families still awaiting relocation.

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With continuous rainfall, it has been difficult to carry out effective relief and rescue operations. We urge the provincial and federal governments to immediately inspect the affected areas, relocate residents from high-risk settlements, and ensure relief, rescue and rehabilitation support.

Rural Municipality Chair Bhupalraj Rai emphasized the difficulty in conducting effective relief and rescue operations due to the ongoing rain. He appealed to the provincial and federal governments for immediate inspection of the affected areas, relocation of residents from high-risk zones, and provision of relief, rescue, and rehabilitation support. Rai also urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary movement, and stay in safe locations, calling for widespread coordination and support during this crisis.

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We urge residents to remain on high alert, avoid unnecessary movement and stay in safe locations, calling for coordination and support from all sides during the disaster.