On October 7, 2022, heavy rains triggered a massive landslide near Sallam village in ward 5 of Kapurkot Rural Municipality on October 7, 2022. Three houses were swept away by the landslide and six others were damaged.

Fourteen families have been displaced due to the ongoing risk. The landslide generally remains inactive for most of the year but resumes every monsoon. When it rains, stones start falling from the hill slopes putting the settlement at high risk.

Last year, due to the heavy rainfalls that occurred in October, the land caved in at Kaphalpani settlement in ward 4 of Bangad Kupinde Municipality. Six houses developed cracks as the land sank and eight families were displaced for a month, while 24 families were affected by the cave-in.

Even after a long time since the disaster, the authorities have not been able to provide any assistance other than gabion wire netting to some houses in Kaphalpani. Even now, the local residents are forced to live in risky conditions around the affected area.

Salyan, a hill district of Karnali Province, has 10 local units including three municipalities and seven rural municipalities. A total of 126 settlements in various local bodies are at risk of landslides because of which about 4,000 families are affected. Out of the 126 settlements, 35 are at high risk and 91 are at moderate risk.

The haphazard construction of various physical infrastructures, mainly roads by using heavy equipment including bulldozers and excavators weakens the land topography. The heavy rainfall in the monsoon season then triggers landslides, leaving the settlements at risk.

According to the data of the Soil Conservation Office in Surkhet, the provincial headquarters of Karnali, the areas at high risk of landslides are Nigalchula, Majhkanda, Bhadale of Bangad Kupinde municipality; Baphukhola of Bagchaur Municipality; Kaprechaur, Kalche, Rampur, Laxmipur of Kalimati Rural Municipality; Chhanyakshetra, Jhimpe, Chami, Gurase and Kharsubas of Chhatreshwari Rural Municipality; Garpa, Khumkhani, Dhanbang, Gothiwan, Kapurkot Bazar of Kapurkot Rural Municipality and Swikot, Kalagaun of Kumak Rural Municipality in Salyan.

The earthquake that occurred on November 3 with its epicentre at Ramidanda of neighbouring Jajarkot district added to the woes. The earthquake left various settlements of Darma Rural Municipality at high risk of landslides.

Lirapaja, Dalsing, Pajakhola, Saugaun, Ligachhap in ward 2 of Darma; Dhulkharka, Maineni and Lekhagaun in ward 3 of Darma; Ratikhola, Bhalchaur, Masina, Sarsukhola and Galat in ward 4 of Darma; Bachhela, Liredanda, Lampakha, Kaulebot, Jalekharka, Nigalpani, Bholtega, Pokhari, Bhalukhola, Bohari, Dhakadamkot, Tinpokhari, Uttiseni, Dhaldhunga and Adherikhola in ward 5 of Darma; and Kimutakura, Badachur, Oligaun, Sunargaun, Malikcha and Malibang in ward 6 of Darma are at risk of landslides.

Several people die every year due to monsoon-induced disasters, mainly landslides, in Salyan.

“Two years ago, more than 100 families from Okhreni, Jarepani, Andheri, Tingairi, Chauradanda of Banphukhola were affected by a landslide triggered by rain. The municipality had used a bulldozer to dig the soil, which was then weakened by the vibrations,” said Deepak Oli, a local and former ward chairman of ward 12 of Bagchaur Municipality.

The haphazard construction of rural roads and deforestation, according to the conservationists, are the leading causes of landslides.

Dipesh KC, Salyan in-charge of the Soil Conservation Office in Surkhet, said that landslides occurred in 90 places in Salyan last year due to soil erosion caused by haphazard construction of roads, and deforestation.

As per the data available at the District Administration Office in Salyan, a person died, 96 houses were destroyed, 133 other houses were partially damaged while 604 people were displaced in the district last year.

Chief District Officer Shambhu Prasad Regmi said that most of the settlements in the district are at the risk of landslides due to the roads dug constructed by the local units using dozers and excavators.

“We have already instructed all the local units to make necessary arrangements to minimise the impacts of water-induced disasters. The district administration office has been launching various awareness programmes to protect from the disasters,” said Regmi.