GORKHA, July 1: Around 200 households of Kerauja VDC in Gorkha district have been displaced after their settlements were threatened by landslides triggered by heavy rains this week. The VDC, which lies in northern part of the district, is located at an altitude of 2,300 meters. It takes two days on foot to reach Kerauja from the district headquarters.
A total of 113 households from Karauja VDC ward number one, two and four have left their villages. They are now building temporary shelters in the nearby forest.
The District Disaster Relief Committee (DDRC), Gorkha said it is not possible to relocate the displaced immediately and has urged them to live in safe places nearby their villages.
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“We've provided them some tarpaulins and tents. However, we are finding it difficult to make arrangement for temporary shelters for all,” said Chief District Officer (CDO), Narayan Bhatta, who is also the coordinator of DDRC Gorkha.
Likewise, a total of 38 households from Karauja VDC ward number three have also left their village for a safer location.
Although DDRC has made a sustainable relocation plan for landslide-hit locals of Karauja VDC, it has yet to find a suitable location for the purpose.
According to CDO Bhatta, around 400 households of Keraunja need relocation.
Similarly, Uhiya VDC ward number one is also at high risk of landslide. Three houses have already been swept away due to landslide earlier this week. Locals from the village are preparing to move to safer locations, Kanchha Gurung, one of locals, informed.
Earlier, a survey carried out immediately after last year's massive earthquake had found 23 settlements in different VDCs were at risk of landslides. The survey team had recommended their earliest possible relocation. But none of the settlements have been relocated till now.
Meanwhile, Local Development Officer (LDO) Narayan Acharya informed that the government will initiate relocation process after identifying landslide-prone settlements in the district.
