Mudslide claims ten lives in remote Jajarkot district

At least 10 people died, including six of a family, when a mudslide hit Bohora VDC-4 of district headquarters Khalanga in the far-west Jajarkot district, late Wednesday night.

The mudslide occurred at 2 am in the night and completely destroyed one house by sweeping it away right from its foundation, reports said.

The deceased have been identified as Amrita Shahi, 45 and her three sons - Ramesh Shahi, 14; Raju Shahi, 12; Pramod Shahi, 10 - and daughter Sujita Shahi. Likewise Chandra Bahadur Malla, 65, father of Amrita, also died in the incident.

However, the identities of four other deceased including a husband and a wife said to be from the neighbouring village and staying in the house overnight has not been identified.

Police said they are trying to ascertain their identities. The village lies at a half an hour walk from the district headquarters.

Karuna Shahi, 20, was the only person rescued alive in the incident. Reports quoting police said that she sustained injuries after being buried in the pile of mud and is undergoing treatment at the district hospital.

Reports also quoted Chief District Office Govinda Mani Bhurtel as saying that the bodies of six who were buried in the landslide have been exhumed by a team comprising Nepal Army and police personnel. Local had also helped in the rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, flood victims in Rajbiraj district have still not received any relief from the government. They were displaced from their homes after flood waters caused by incessant rainfall completely inundated Gobargadha village.

Reports said that the people in the village facing difficulties because of not getting the relief they were promised by the government. One local resident said that they have not properly eaten for the last five days as most of their food provisions including cooking utensils have been swept away in the mudslide along with their houses.

Similar is the situation of Sakarpura, Tilathi, rampura, Launiya, where residents complain of government's indifference to their misery.

The Kunauli embankment built illegally by India along the Nepal-India border has caused the water level in the Khado and Jita River to increase and flood the nearby villages. nepalnews.com July 31 08