The incessant rainfall for the past few days has risked hilly settlements in the eastern region of the country. The landslides have already damaged over a dozen houses while locals living in landslide-prone areas are forced to leave the settlements.

A person died and three others were missing in a landslide at Phalehung Rural Municipality that lies north of Panchthar district headquarters Phidim.

The missing persons are of a same family of Memeng Tanglepa Village of Phalehung Rural Municipality. They have been identified as Bishnu Bhakta Rai, 55, his daughter Ganga Rai, 12, and granddaughter Priya Rai. The trio went missing after a landslide buried their house.

Likewise, a 75-year-old Trilochan Bishwokarma died after a landslide swept away his house in Chukpaden of Ektin Rural Munipality.

It has been learnt that 10 houses were completely damaged in Memeng Tanglepa. Locals, however, managed to save their lives as they made a timely escape at night before landslide hit the village.

A police team led by DSP Nakul Pokhrel has headed towards the villages from the district headquarters. However, they are yet to reach the villages.

According to DSP Pokhrel, police teams from nearby police posts like Ektin and Memeng are also unable to reach the landslide-hit villages due to obstructions created by the landslides.

The incessant rainfall also swept away a 13kw hydro electricity project in local Niwu River, forcing the local residents to live in the dark. The heavy rainfall has also made the daily life uneasy.