BAGLUNG: Every year, floods and landslides during the monsoon season lead to significant loss of life and property in Baglung. As this year’s rainy season begins, the District Disaster Management Committee has started identifying high-risk areas and issuing warnings to residents.
A total of 5,872 houses across the district have been identified as vulnerable to floods and landslides this monsoon. The committee has urged residents of at-risk settlements to exercise caution and prioritize safety.
Many of the settlements are located along riverbanks or on steep terrain, making them particularly susceptible to rain-induced disasters. Nisikhola Rural Municipality has the highest number of at-risk homes, with 2,438 houses identified as vulnerable. In contrast, Jaimini Municipality has the lowest, with only 16 houses listed at risk.
According to Assistant Chief District Officer Pushparaj Poudel, the number of houses at risk in various municipalities is as follows: 1,554 in Baglung Municipality, 390 in Dhorpatan Municipality, 125 in Galkot Municipality, 210 in Bareng Rural Municipality, 160 in Badigad Rural Municipality, 115 in Tamankhola Rural Municipality, 144 in Tarakhola Rural Municipality, and 720 in Kathekhola Rural Municipality.
Alongside homes, essential infrastructure including schools, irrigation canals, power plants, and hundreds of ropanis of arable land are also under threat.
“This is the monsoon season—homes and settlements in risk-prone areas could be swept away at any time by floods or landslides. We’ve repeatedly urged citizens to be alert and avoid unnecessary risks,” said Poudel. “There is no alternative but to relocate to safer areas. Many lives have already been lost in past disasters.”
Chief Administrative Officer of Nisikhola Rural Municipality, Jiwan Pun Magar, said the most vulnerable settlements are in the Huldi area of Ward No. 1, where relocation is urgently needed. He noted that efforts are underway to coordinate with the central and provincial governments to develop integrated settlements and rehabilitate those at risk.
Pun Magar added that the municipality has formed a Disaster Management Fund to aid in relief and rescue efforts. “Hundreds of houses in Nisikhola are at risk. Given the municipality’s limited resources, we need support from higher-level governments for effective relocation,” he said.
“We’re currently working to raise awareness among residents and have established a Rs. 3 million fund for relief and rehabilitation. We’ve also distributed rescue supplies to all three police outposts in the municipality to strengthen emergency response.”
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