BAITADI: As with every monsoon season, the residents of Dogadakedar Rural Municipality-6 in Baitadi district are once again living in fear of landslides.
The landslides, which began around 1961, continue to threaten the village, depriving locals of peaceful sleep and safety.
Local resident Log Singh Bhat shared that the annual threat of landslides has grown more concerning this year. “Since the start of the rainy season, I’ve been afraid to sleep at night,” he said.
“Landslides have already swept away land across the area. Our entire settlement is at risk. And to make matters worse, we are economically weak. We are living in danger.”
Many residents have already been forced to migrate. According to local Ram Dutta Joshi, most people left after their homes and farmland were destroyed by landslides. Today, only around 20 families—mostly from economically marginalized backgrounds—remain in the village.
“Every house in our village was damaged in the 2018 landslide,” said local Bhojraj Joshi. “The ground gave way underneath our homes. Since then, we have been living under constant threat.”
So far, landslides have claimed nine lives and swept away over 200 ropanis of cultivable land. Local elders recall that during the Panchayat era, King Birendra had ordered the relocation of Dolbasti.
However, due to political complications and a lack of implementation, the relocation never happened. Those who were financially able have already purchased land in the Terai and moved. But poor and Dalit families have been left behind to live in hazardous conditions.
The landslides have also destroyed vital water sources, forcing villagers to rely on contaminated water, said local Bahadur Bhul. Despite the continued danger, no concrete steps have been taken to relocate the settlement. Locals insist that relocating the village is the only viable long-term solution to ensure their safety.
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