PANCHTHAR: Landslides triggered by unseasonal rainfall on May 22 have put 26 houses at high risk in Chyangthapu of Yangwarak Rural Municipality-1 in Panchthar district.
According to Ward Chairperson Rajendra Khaling Rai, six settlements of the former Chyangthapu VDC have been affected by the landslides. Thingepur Kopche, Biruwa, Perunge, Chamlingdanda, Ekrate, Kholaghari, and Sundarpur were among the worst-hit areas.
He said 26 houses are at high risk, while around 70 others remain vulnerable to further landslides.
The landslide swept away the houses of Mahamlal Khawas and Kabirman Khawas of Chamlingdanda, and Gangaram Begha of Kopche. Although most houses were not completely destroyed, many remain unsafe.
“Some houses are being hit by landslides from above, while others are at risk from below,” said Ward Chairperson Khaling. “People are living in fear and moving to safer places. Although there were no human casualties, livestock were swept away and farmland and cardamom plantations were badly damaged.”
A similar disaster had struck Chyangthapu three years ago following heavy rainfall. On June 18, 2023, floods in rivers including the Mewa Khola and landslides damaged several settlements such as Chowk, Kholaghari, and Ekrate.
“The situation is similar to the disaster three years ago, but this time the rainfall was even heavier,” Khaling said. “Nature is repeatedly inflicting suffering on us.”
Former District Coordination Committee member Nar Bahadur Gurung said panic has spread across the affected settlements.
“People are frightened even during the daytime. Landslides have occurred in many places and floods have swept away structures along riverbanks,” he said.
According to Gurung, floods and landslides destroyed eight irrigation projects, three drinking water schemes, and damaged three suspension bridges.
Major road sections, including the Chyangthapu stretch of the Pushpalal (Mid-Hill) Highway, the Phaklung-Phalot road, and the Chyangthapu-Samarjung and Chyangthapu-Lampokhari roads, have suffered heavy damage.
The blockage of the Chyangthapu-Lampokhari road has disrupted the supply of materials to the Armed Police Force Border Outpost in Sukadhap.
More than 50 students have been unable to attend school due to road disruptions, while regular health check-ups for pregnant women have also been affected.
As structures damaged during the landslide three years ago had not been fully reconstructed before being hit again, locals have demanded that the area be declared a disaster zone.
Vice Chairperson of Yangwarak Rural Municipality Baba Menyangbo said wards 1, 2, and 3 suffered extensive damage, while wards 4 and 5 reported minor damage. He said ward offices are still collecting details of the losses.
The Oyam-Chyangthapu-Chiwabhanjyang section of the Pushpalal (Mid-Hill) Highway, which connects all wards of the rural municipality, remains blocked due to landslides. However, the road from Oyam has been partially reopened.
“We have cleared the road up to Phalamkhola in Ward No. 3, and work is ongoing on the remaining sections,” Meyangbo said.
He added that relief distribution has been difficult because roads to Chyangthapu and Phalaicha remain blocked.
“We are currently unable to move beyond Oyam. Local representatives have been instructed to collect damage details and coordinate immediate response efforts,” he said.
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