Relief materials arrived for disaster survivors in Darchula

Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu along with a team has arrived at Darchula district headquarters Khalanga carrying a package of relief materials.

Minister Badu was accompanied by Sudurpaschim Province Internal Affairs and Law Minister Rana Bahadur Rawal and Minister for Forest and Environment Man Bahadur Dhami.

The team reached the district headquarters with relief materials via a Nepal Army helicopter.

Those losing lives in the landslide triggered by incessant rain since last Friday night have been identified. Among the identified are Nandarm Bohora, 75, of Mahakali Municipality-2, Mulla, Manmati Karki, 35, a resident of Mahakali-3, Dungi, Janaki Thagunna, 35, 15-year-old Dhanuli Thagunna and Mohanram Paki, 45, of Naugad Rural Municipality-1.

Landslide-injured Ram Singh Thagunna, Bira Thagunna, Faguli Thagunna, and Jaya Bahadur Thagunna were airlifted to the District Hospital and are undergoing treatment there.

Twenty-year-old lactating mother Harina Mahar was sent to Dhangadhi via Nepal Army helicopter when her treatment was not possible at the district hospital, shared Assistant Chief District Officer Hemanti Saud.

Five locals including three women and two men lost their lives to the landslide. Eight residents, including five women and three men, were injured in the disaster. At least 10 people are still missing.

A search for the disappeared is underway, the district police official said.

As many as 263 cattle of the locals were buried to death in the landslide. At least nine vehicles, including six jeeps, a car, a tractor, and an excavator went missing in the incident.

Likewise, 42 houses were completely damaged and nine houses witnessed partial damage.

Information Officer at the District Police Office, Lokendra Bahadur Singh informed that forty houses are still reeling under crisis.

The landslide has taken away the Dasharath Primary School at Mahakali-3. The flood has also caused full damage to the Dungi Power House at Mahakali-3.

The flood and landslide have fully damaged two suspension bridges and a motor-able bridge. Similarly, the district headquarters in Khalanga has witnessed an acute crisis of drinking water.

According to Balbir Thagunna, a local, there has been an acute shortage of drinking water since this morning and in its response, the Nepal Army has eased the locals for fetching water from its barrack.

As informed, the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and locals have teamed up to step up rescue, relief, and search operations at the site. ---