Landslides pile on the misery in Jajarkot settlements

A devastating landslide in Jajarkot, western Nepal, has claimed at least four lives and injured six, compounding the misery for a region still grappling with the aftermath of a powerful earthquake three years prior. The recent disaster struck on Saturday evening, burying homes and trapping residents in the Risang settlement.

Kedar Karki, a 52-year-old survivor of the 2023 earthquake, died en route to a hospital after being critically injured when his half-ruined house collapsed during the landslide. His family, like many others, had returned to damaged homes after living in temporary shelters for nearly two years due to relentless monsoon rains.

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This landslide has devastated our entire village, causing huge human casualties and physical destruction.

Bhim Bahadur Karki, ward chair of Bheri Municipality-2, described the landslide as having "devastated our entire village, causing huge human casualties and physical destruction." He noted that nearly 90 percent of the 300 households in Risang were already affected by the 2023 earthquake, and the recent landslides have destroyed most of the remaining structures.

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Landslides have occurred in almost every single neighbourhood, making it impossible to move from one cluster to another. The area is entirely shattered, and it is impossible to assess everyone’s status right now.

Rescue operations are severely challenged by the extensive destruction of infrastructure, which has made it impossible to travel between affected areas. "The area is entirely shattered, and it is impossible to assess everyone’s status right now," ward chief Karki stated. Approximately 150 people remain trapped in isolated locations, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police Buddhi Sagar Puri.

Displaced residents are sheltering in community buildings and have received limited aid, including tarpaulins, tents, utensils, and emergency food supplies. Local community leader Dhan Bahadur Karki expressed the desperation of the displaced families, stating, "None of us has been able to eat a proper meal. We neither had enough to eat nor could we sleep properly yesterday." Despite receiving single tarpaulins, the ongoing rain has forced them to remain vigilant.

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None of us has been able to eat a proper meal. We neither had enough to eat nor could we sleep properly yesterday. A single tarpaulin has been distributed to each family, but the rain has continued. We have been forced to stay awake again today.