30 October, Myagdi. Dilmati Chantyal of Chinakhet in Bhakimli, Beni Municipality-3 of Myagdi has no joy this year. The pain of losing her husband, the damage to her house and shed by the landslide, and the situation where the agricultural land has turned into a barren, have kept her away from the joy of the festival.

This year's monsoon disaster has deprived Dilmati's family of both support and shelter. Her husband, 70-year-old Lalveer Chantyal, was buried in the place where he was sleeping and died. Due to the grief of losing her husband, Dilmati's life has been hit hard by the loss of her house, herds of cattle and even her farming land. Although the wounds on the body are healing, the wounds on the mind are still fresh.

Dilmati said, "Dilmati said, 'It seems as if the festival would not have come at the time of grief.' A shed with four buffaloes and a pada was swept away. It is difficult to hold my heart when I see that the land used for farming has turned into a hideous mess.

A child deprived of his grandfather's love

Dilmati and Lalveer were taking care of their seven-year-old grandson Darpan Chantyal amid the grief of their family. After Darpan's mother and father got married for the second time, grandfather Lalbir, grandmother Dilmati and aunt Gaumaya were bringing him up.

Dilmati was injured while taking her grandson Darpan out of the window after realizing that the landslide had occurred. Although she succeeded in saving her grandson's life, she is sad that she could not save her husband who became the support of her life.

Darpan's child's heart has been deeply hurt by the death of his grandfather who gave him love and affection. Due to the pain of losing a family member, the homeless situation has made their Dasaintihar sad. In the past, the festival, which was celebrated with the family, has become a time of sad memories and deprivation for them this year.

Disaster repeated in two months

The residents of Chinakhet have had to face floods twice in two months this year. After the floods that occurred on July 11th and October 11th caused great damage to the settlement and agricultural land, the residents are worried about their safe living.

According to Chameli Thapa, a local teacher of Chinakhet, after the flood damaged the village, the atmosphere of Dasaitihar has disappeared. She said that as the risk of disaster increases, local residents leave their homes and migrate to other places.

"The atmosphere of the festival has been lost due to landslides," she said.

When the landslide that is active in Pakho above the settlement merges with the hole, the flood with Geiger enters towards the settlement and farmlands. Due to the increased risk of landslides and floods, it has become difficult for local residents to stay at home and do farming.

According to Padam Pun, Ward President of Beni Municipality-3, the house of Lalveer Chantyal was completely damaged by the landslide on 11th of July. The flood of October 11 has made the houses of Moti Pun and Lok Bahadur Pun unlivable.

One hundred and 50 plantations of land were converted into barren land

In Chinakhet, 42 households have been affected by the flood. According to Ward President Pun, the cultivated land including orange orchards, agricultural farms and paddy fields spread over an area of ​​about 150 ropanis has been turned into a wasteland.

The residents of Chinakhet have recently been expanding commercial orange and vegetable farming. The flood has severely affected the local people's efforts to become self-sufficient and create jobs by doing agricultural business in the village.

Local Bavi Chantyal said that his garden, which had about 100 orange trees that were at the time of fruiting, was covered by the landslide and became barren. After years of hard work and investment, the plants and arable land, which have been able to provide income, have been destroyed, the problem has also increased in the livelihood of the farmers.

Residents of Chinakhet, home to Magar and Chantyal communities, aimed to improve their economic conditions through commercial agriculture. However, due to landslides and floods in the river, their hard work and future plans have been threatened.

According to farmer Dhan Bahadur Thapa, the flood has become an obstacle in the plan to become independent and self-employed by doing commercial agriculture in the village. Farmers are worried about how to earn a living now that the land used for farming is at risk.

Damage to drinking water, playgrounds and community buildings

The flood has damaged not only the private property of Chinakhet but also the community infrastructure. The tank at the source of Chinakhet-Dandakhani water supply scheme has been completely damaged. The playground of Himchuli Sports Club and the building of Chinakhet Mother Group were also buried in the landslide.

After the damage to drinking water, community buildings and playgrounds, the daily life and community activities of the locals have also been affected. Locals are worried that more damage may occur in the coming days as the landslides are active in the settlement.

According to Ward President Pun, since the village itself is at risk, a team of geologists has conducted an on-site monitoring of the landslide. He said that an initiative has been taken with the Beni municipality and the provincial government for the prevention and control of landslides.

Forced to quit

The residents of Chinakhet have been forced to look for a safe place to live after the continuous floods and landslides put their houses and farms at risk. When it comes to the situation of having to leave the village where they have been living for years, the locals are worried about the loss of their property and displacement from the old village.

According to local Moti Pun, as the risk of landslides is increasing, it is necessary to think about leaving the village and going elsewhere.

"After frequent landslides and floods, the people of Chinakhet have started looking for alternatives", he said.

In the absence of a safe housing arrangement, they are in a dilemma whether to stay in a risky house or leave their homes and go elsewhere. As arable land has been turned into barren land, it has become difficult for families dependent on agriculture to earn their daily living.

Awaiting restoration and preservation

The residents of Chinakhet have demanded from the state agencies to arrange temporary housing for the families living in risky houses, resettle them in safe places and conduct landslide and flood control programs. They say that a long-term plan based on technical studies is necessary for the protection of settlements and arable land.

The affected families can hope to return to normal life only if the risk of landslides can be reduced, the damaged water supply system can be reconstructed and livelihoods can be restored.

This year, in many houses in Chinakhet, the worry of safe living has become bigger than the preparations for Dasain. Some families have lost their relatives, some have lost their homes and farming land. The pain caused by the calamity has become deeper than the joy brought by the festival.

Rasas (National News Committee) is the government news organization of Nepal.