Dhangadhi. Panic has spread among the locals after Chamelia River was completely blocked for about half an hour due to a huge landslide in Apihimal Rural Municipality-1 Bhattar of Darchula on Friday afternoon. The municipality said that there is still a risk that the river could be blocked again due to the continuous landslides.
According to Bhagatsingh Thekere Bohra, president of Apihimal Rural Municipality, the landslide was falling in small form since Friday morning. In the afternoon, around 1 o'clock, Chamelia river was blocked after a big landslide.
It was raining little by little since morning. The big landslide occurred around 1:00 p.m., "That landslide blocked the Chamelia river in the lower area of Bhattar for about half an hour," said President Bohra.
Now the river has slowly made its way through the landslide. Although the river is partially flowing, the landslide has not stopped. Therefore, there is a risk that the river may be blocked again, President Bohra said.
"Now, the river has made its way slowly by eroding and is partially flowing," he said, "but there is still a risk that the river will be blocked again because the landslide is continuing."
According to President Bohra, the landslide is not normal. There has been a huge landslide that looks like the whole hill has fallen.
The landslide has damaged more than 500 meters of footpaths and stairs in Bhattar area. Local farms were also washed away and a community building was partially damaged.
As Bhattar settlement is at risk due to landslides, the rural municipality has moved the local residents to a safe place. Residents of Bhattar have been shifted to the nearby Gursar area, President Bohra said. Gursar is a settlement between Shiti and health post.
"The main risk is Bhattar Basti," he said, "so we have moved the residents of Bhattar Basti to a safer place." The rural municipality estimates that if the Chamelia river gets blocked again and bursts at once, not only in Bhattar but also in the lower coastal area, the rural area may suffer a lot.
President Bohra said that if the river gets blocked and bursts, villages in Tapaldhari, Makrigad, Chamelia hydropower project dam side, Okhal and Marma areas of Apihimal Rural Municipality-3 may be affected.
If the river gets blocked again and bursts, ward no. of the lower coastal area. 3 Tapaldhari, Makrigad, Dam side of Chamelia hydropower, Okhal and villages in Marma area may suffer heavy damage,” he said.
In view of the possible risk, the hydropower project and the surrounding settlements have also been alerted. Dam side employees and residents of Makrigad have been asked to stay in safe places.
Chairman Bohra said that the employees of three-four hydropower projects in Marma area have also been instructed to stay in a safe place on Friday night. According to him, most of the employees have gone to a safe place.
According to the local level, there have been landslides in Bhattar area before. President Bohra says that the current landslide is much bigger and more dangerous than the previous one.
"There was a landslide here three to four years ago," he said, "but the risk then was less than now." Now the entire hill has fallen, so the situation is very scary and dangerous.
Due to the massive landslide that blocked the flow of the Chamelia river and the ongoing landslides, panic remains in the Apihimal till Friday night.
The rural municipality has kept the vulnerable settlements and hydropower projects on high alert and is continuously monitoring the condition of the river.
