Acting PM Khand pledges to declare emergency in Baitadi

Acting Prime Minister Bal Krishna Khand pledged to make efforts to declare emergency in Baitadi, Bajhang, and Dadeldhura districts hardest hit by flood and landslide.

Inspecting the flood and landslide-hit areas in Bajhang district today, Acting PM Khand said that emergency would be declared in these districts and development of physical infrastructures would be stressed.

Khand, also Minister for Home Affairs, interacted with the affected locals at Aicheli Bagar in Khaptad Chhanna and took stock of the extent of damages by the recent unseasonal rain-triggered flood and landslide.

He vowed to declare an emergency in these districts in the Council of Ministers' meeting once Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba returns from abroad.

Khand also said that the relief packages would be provided to the affected ones through respective Chief District Officers. Requesting patience, he asked the affected locals to receive Rs 50,000 that each household losing their family members to the disasters would be provided as immediate relief.

The beneficiaries also include those whose houses were damaged in the disasters.

Khaptad Chhanna Rural Municipality Chair Barma Rokaya shared that the Acting PM inspected the flood-hit areas and inquired about the extent of losses in terms of human casualties and properties.

Chief District Officer of Bajhang Mohan Adhikari had briefed visiting Acting PM Khand about the details of the damage.

A total of 12 people died and 19 went missing in the landslide and floods occurred in the third week of October in these three districts. Over 100 households were displaced while thousands of hectares of land were washed away or turned into a wasteland.

Similarly, Khand has also inspected the flood and landslide affected areas of Dadeldhura district today.

He took stock of damages caused by landslides at Ganyapdhura rural municipality 1 and 3 of Dadeldhura. Chairperson of Ganyapdhura rural municipality, Nabal Bahadur Malla, briefed the Acting Prime Minister, Khand, about the details of loss caused by landslide and flood.

During the inspection, Home Minister Khand reached Ruwakhola village, the birthplace of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, and inquired about the damages caused by landslides there.

On the occasion, he assured landslide and flood survivors of making arrangements of relief support soon. The Home Minister also expressed commitment that the government would provide possible support for the construction of houses.

Three persons lost their lives in recent unseasonal rain in the district while a huge amount of property was damaged.

According to the report, property worth more than Rs 1 billion was damaged at Ganyapundhura-1 alone. More than one dozen houses of Patrol village are at risk of landslide and locals of vulnerable areas have demanded to shift them to safer places.

Similarly, 250 households of Ganyapundhura rural municipality are at risk of landslide and flood.

Home Minister Khand inspected landslide and flood-hit areas of Dadeldhura, Bajhang, and Baitadi districts today.