Achham landslide update: 17 confirmed dead

The Sudurpaschim Province has been badly affected by the landslides and floods caused by the incessant rainfall. Achham district has incurred a huge loss of lives and properties.

Officiating Chief District Officer in Achham, Dipesh Rijal, informed that 17 persons were confirmed dead in the landslides that occurred in different parts of the district. Similarly, 11 persons injured in the incidents were rescued and airlifted to Surkhet for treatment.

So far, seven dead bodies were found at Kamalbazaar Municipality-6 while five others at ward no 8, and four at Turmakhand Rural Municipality-5. Three persons have gone missing in the landslide, according to District Administration Office.

Officiating CDO Rijal added that even a dead body was found at Dhakari Rural Municipality-6, while a person went missing in the landslide.

Senior Superintendent of Police who is also the spokesperson of Sudurpaschim Province Police, Bhola Bahadur Rawal, informed that police persons were mobilized for the rescue of the injured ones and search for the missing ones in Achham landslides and floods. Management of the dead bodies was also undergoing, he said, adding, "The number of casualties may increase. Landslides occurred in several places of Achham district."

The Bhimdutta Highway connecting seven districts in the Sudurpaschim Province has been disrupted. Communication service has also been disordered in Achham.

Similarly, Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Shyam Singh Chaudhari, said hundreds of houses have been inundated in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts following the downpour. The flooded Machheli, Banhara, and Doda Rivers have entered the settlements, thereby displacing people.

SP Chaudhari shared that those inundated ones were relocated to safer places. "Some people are staying in the jungle while some are staying at their relatives' homes," said Chaudhari, adding that a suspension bridge at Dubaha of Shukflaphanta was swept away by the flood."

Security persons have been mobilized throughout the district for rescue operation since 2:00 am, according to him.

Meanwhile, the Bhimdutta Highway at Balkot of Chure Rural Municipality has been blocked by floods. DSP Bed Prakash Joshi informed that the Highway was obstructed by landslides as well.

Likewise, places, such as Sonaphanta, Bharatan, Janakpur, and Chacharhawa were inundated after the water level increased in the Pathariya River. The river continues swelling.

The floods entered human settlements at Milanpur Tol, Lalbojhi, and Puliya Tole in ward no 5 after the Kandra River swelled.

Meanwhile, participating in the meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee, Darchula, the locals from Mahakali Municipality and Naugadh Rural Municipality demanded that these two local levels be declared as disaster-hit areas after flood and landslide wreaked havoc in the hilly district on September 9, according to Chief District Officer in Darchula, Dirgharaj Upadhyay.

A huge loss of lives and properties was caused due to flood on September 9. Details of the damages have been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Sudurpaschim Province, and the federal government informed Naugad Rural Municipality Chairperson Daljit Singh Dhami.

Five people died in the landslide and flood in Darchula while 10 others went missing.

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