Relief supplies collected by various organisations for landslide victims in Kotalbara of Thabang Rural Municipality-5 in Rolpa have remained stranded along the route, a week after a massive landslide killed 13 people, destroyed 11 houses and displaced many families.

Food, clothing and other essential items have been held up at several locations after landslides blocked the road at dozens of points, preventing vehicles from reaching the affected village.

Supplies collected and sent by organisations including the Lions Club of Rolpa, Rolpali Sewa Samaj and INF have been stranded at Mabang, Pobang, Phuliban and other places because the road to Kotalbara remains impassable.

Local representatives said around 200 porters would be needed just to carry the supplies from those locations to Kotalbara.

Buddhi Gharti Magar, ward chairman of Thabang-5, said none of the relief supplies sent by donors had reached the village in full because of the road blockages. For now, residents and relatives have been providing food and other essentials to meet the immediate needs of the victims.

“Not all the relief supplies sent to the victims have reached here,” he said. “There are blockages at many points along the road, so vehicles cannot operate. A large amount of relief material is piled up along the route.”

The road between Sulichaur and Uwa has also been disrupted, making it difficult to transport the supplies, Gharti said.

The stranded supplies would have to be carried by porters, creating both a labour and cost problem.

“We need around 200 porters to bring the supplies piled up at Mabang, Pobang and Phuliban,” he said. “It is difficult to find that many porters. The materials are urgently needed, but we are worried about how to bring them here.”

Relief materials delivered directly to Kotalbara by Thabang Rural Municipality and the Nepal Red Cross Society have already been distributed to the victims.

The immediate needs of affected families have also been met with supplies collected locally and some goods borrowed from residents, Gharti said.

“We have managed the victims’ immediate needs using the relief materials brought here and some supplies borrowed from residents,” he said. “But we have not been able to bring the materials stranded along the way.”

Local representatives have also complained of a lack of coordination in the collection and distribution of relief.

Individuals and organisations have been collecting relief materials, but the ward office is often not informed in advance, Gharti said.

“We have asked those who come saying they want to provide relief to give us a list of the materials,” he said. “But we have no prior information about those collecting relief.”

To improve coordination, the ward office has formed a relief collection and support committee led by local social activist Amar Pun Magar.

The committee is working to coordinate the collection, transportation and distribution of relief supplies.