A Tragic Dashain in Ilam
During the festive season of Dashain, Raju Chhetri’s home in Manebhanjyang, Suryodaya Municipality, was filled with joy and celebration. Guests had gathered, and preparations for a trip to Sandakpur were underway. However, this joy was abruptly shattered by a devastating landslide that occurred on Saturday night.
Raju described the event as a sudden loss. “Everything disappeared in a blink,” he said, his eyes showing deep sorrow. His 55-year-old mother, Manamaya Chhetri, and 10-year-old daughter, Rasmika, were buried under the debris. Additionally, his relatives—Dip Basnet, his wife Bhawani, and their daughter Deepa—who had traveled from Dolakha to celebrate Dashain, also lost their lives in the disaster.
Raju’s wife, Meera, and their five-year-old daughter, Reshika, were in another room at the time, which saved them from the tragedy. The next day, five bodies were cremated together. Now, Raju performs the mourning rituals for his mother and daughter at a community building near the Area Police Office, stating, “There’s no home left. Only a mountain of memories.”
Isolated Village and Lack of Support
Manebhanjyang, located near the Nepal-India border, is now isolated due to the landslide. Sub-Inspector Surendra Dotel of the Armed Police Force’s Manebhanjyang Border Outpost explained, “All roads to the settlement have been swept away. The only route available now is through India’s Sukepokhari. Nepal’s side is completely cut off.”
Local residents expressed frustration over the lack of government assistance. “We are waiting for help that never comes,” one villager said.
Grief in Ghos and Nearby Settlements
In Ghos settlement, a landslide destroyed the house of Dambar Bahadur Tamang, resulting in the death of five family members. Anu Tamamg from Jhapa, who had come to receive Dashain blessings, along with her three-year-old son Abhas Danuwar, Pravin Tamang, Sameer Rai, and Biraj Tamang, were among those who lost their lives.
Prakash Tamang, a relative, shared, “We completed the three-day mourning rituals at a relative’s house. We are now cleaning the collapsed site to perform the remaining rites at the house itself.” Despite some relief efforts, such as Rs10,000 per victim from the Indreni Group, families reported no support from the government.
Ilam in a State of Semi-Blockade
The continuous rain and landslides have caused widespread disruption in Ilam. Major highways and alternate routes are blocked, leading to what locals call a “semi-blockade.” A shopkeeper in Ilam Bazar mentioned, “Not a single truck has arrived for five days. We’ve started running out of rice, salt, cooking oil, petrol, and gas.”
According to Chief District Officer (CDO) Sunita Nepal, the Mechi Highway and other alternate roads are damaged. “Some remote villages are receiving relief by helicopter, but it’s impossible to reach all the victims,” she added. Fuel scarcity has worsened, and even ambulances are struggling to operate.
Impact on Livelihoods
The disaster has hit the working poor the hardest. Lakpa Sherpa, who used to collect and crush river gravel, stated, “My house and my job both washed away. Now I have nothing left. I don’t know how I’ll feed my family.”
Daily wage workers in various settlements have become homeless and jobless. Their primary concern is finding shelter and food. “Where do we sleep tonight, and what do we eat tomorrow?” is a common question among them.
Displacement and Losses
According to the District Administration Office in Ilam, landslides and floods have displaced 276 families and caused 39 deaths—37 from landslides and two from floods. “Altogether 132 houses were completely destroyed, and 401 suffered partial damage,” said Assistant CDO Bholanath Guragain. A detailed assessment is still pending.
The disaster also damaged roads, bridges, schools, and drinking water systems, with losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of rupees. Security forces are continuing rescue and relief operations, while displaced families take shelter in schools, public buildings, and relatives’ homes.
Provincial Government Steps Up Relief Efforts
The Koshi province government has intensified its relief efforts. Emergency supplies were sent by helicopter, and more than three truckloads of goods reached Maijogmai, Mai, and Ilam municipalities. Rewati Raman Bhandari, the provincial minister for Internal Affairs and Law, stated, “All available relief materials have been dispatched immediately to affected areas.”
Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki announced financial support for each family of the deceased, saying, “Each family of the deceased will receive Rs100,000 in financial support.” The government has also decided to rebuild all destroyed homes in Ilam, Jhapa, and Morang, and to recommend declaring seven municipalities in Ilam as crisis-hit areas to the federal government.
