Miscellaneous
River back to regular flow
Things are returning to normal in settlements downstream of Baisari after the water level in the artificial lake receded by 60 percent on Monday.A 2km long and 100 metre deep lake was formed after the landslide dammed the river. The site is about 9km north of Beni, the district headquarters of Myagdi. Massive rocks started falling past Saturday midnight, damaging 27 houses in Bhagawati and Ramche VDCs. Bhimsen KC, a local of the landslide-buried Baisari, said the dam is about 40 metres high from the riverbed. He believes there is no possibility of an outburst of the lake as the dam is about 100 metres wide.
The local administration has decided to provide Rs10,000 to each displaced family in relief. “Search is on for a suitable location for resettlement of the
displaced people. We have been coordinating with the authorities to provide relief materials and arrange for a temporary settlement,” said Chief District Officer Tek Bahadur KC.
“We survived the disaster though we have lost our land and property. How long can we depend on the relief provisions? We will stay together if we are provided a safe area,” said a victim. Baisari on the Beni-Jomsom road was buried in the landslide and resettlement is impossible there.
Landslips buried the 300-metre road on the Beni-Jomsom stretch. It also disrupted electricity supply to some villages to the north. The local administration has taken initiatives to resume traffic on the section.
“It’s not possible to reopen the landslide-crushed road. We need to seek an alternative,” said Local Development Officer Chiranjivi Poudel, suggesting that an alternative track could be opened along Galeshwor-Pauwa-Rishinchautari-Majhpar-Begkhola.
Meanwhile, residents in downstream villages, who had climbed to safety fearing floods, have started returning home. In Parbat’s Bagarphant, the flood caused by the overflow swept away a 30-metre long road section. As a result, the area remains cut off from Beni.