Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has assured relief and resettlement aid to the flood and landslide displaced families in the mid- and far-western regions.

During his visit to landslide-hit Phopli village in Pyuthan on Saturday, PM Dahal met landslide victims and inspected landslide-hit Aadheri, Bankot, Thulogaun of Phopli and Bahane Bazaar. “The government has planned to provide Rs800,000 each to the landslide displaced families,” said Dahal, announcing that a “special help” of Rs15,000 will be distributed to each of the landslide-hit families to manage their households during the festival.

Durga Prasad Subedi, one of the victims in Phopli-7, demanded that the government manage safer homes for the flood and landslide victims. Another victim, Sabitra BK of Phopli-5, said they had been excited after the PM declared Rs 800,000 in aid to landslide victims.

The flood and landslides have affected 17 VDCs in Pyuthan this year. A total of 56 people were killed and a woman of Phopli went missing in the floods and landslides on July 29 and 30.

PM Dahal also visited parts of Banke and Bardiya in the mid-western region and Kailali in the Farwest on Saturday. He inspected the Sikta Irrigation Project in Banke where he directed the concerned authorities to pick up momentum of the construction works. “The government is ready to allocate budget, but the project should be completed on time,” said Dahal.

In Kailali, PM Dahal inspected the Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project. He refused to take a memorandum from Tharu families whose family members were taken into custody after the Tikapur incident. That led the enraged Tharu families to protest against PM Dahal, chanting slogans to release the arrestees and provide compensation to them.