Cracked Ground Leaves 60 Tamsu Families in Fear, Locals Demand Safe Shelter
Bajura: Residents of Tamsu village in Tribeni Municipality-9, Bajura, are living in fear after cracks appeared in the ground following this year’s monsoon rains, raising concerns about further landslides and the safety of their homes.
“Looking at the cracks in the ground, it feels like my heart is being torn apart. The more the ground cracks, the more my heart is also being torn apart. I am afraid when this land will flow and when our house will be buried,” said local Tek Thapa, reflecting the fear among villagers.
The land in the area, which has been affected by periodic earthquakes, has developed cracks in several places after the monsoon rains. Courtyards of some houses have split apart, while cracks have appeared in agricultural fields. With landslides occurring in and around the settlement, residents are struggling to feel safe in their homes.
The risk of water entering through the cracks, further landslides and sudden ground movement has increased during the rainy season. Locals who were living safely in their homes until recently are now eating at home during the day and spending nights under tarpaulins.
“The ground is cracked, and we do not know what will happen. So, we eat at home in the morning and evening, but go under tarpaulins to spend the night,” Thapa said.
There were 60 families living in Tamsu. After two houses were buried by a landslide on the night of Shrawan 12, 58 families remain in the village. Ward Chairman Nanda Thapa said the entire settlement is at high risk after the landslide caused cracks to appear in several places.
“The residents of Tamsu have been in fear since Shrawan 12. Despite having houses, they have been living under tarpaulins,” he said. “Even the tarpaulins are not safe. There are cracks everywhere, and we do not know when a landslide will occur.”
One person died and two others were injured when a house was buried by a landslide on Thursday night. Pratiksha Thapa, 20, daughter of local Karna Bahadur Thapa, died after being buried inside her house. Her body was recovered from the buried house after about 10 hours through the efforts of Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force, Nepal Army and locals, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police Shaileshwari Bohara, Chief of the District Police Office.
Dharma Thapa and Dhauli Devi Rawal were injured in the landslide. Dharma returned home after receiving treatment at the District Hospital, while Dhauli Devi is undergoing treatment at Seti Provincial Hospital in Dhangadhi.
Pratiksha, who died in the landslide, was studying in the second semester of a bachelor’s degree at Badimalika Campus, Falasain. Her parents and brother were living in Delhi, India, for employment. Before her death, Pratiksha, who had gone to graze goats in the afternoon, spoke to her mother in Delhi by phone and said that she would go there this time to celebrate the brother-in-law tika. However, that dream remained unfulfilled.
“I don’t want to study much. I will go abroad to earn money,” said Raju Devi Thapa, who returned to Nepal after the incident, recalling what Pratiksha had said. “That promise was the last. The dream she showed us remained a dream.”
Fear Even at the Sight of Clouds
Residents face the fear of landslides while staying indoors and problems related to water and cold while living under tarpaulins. As young and elderly people spend their days in uncertainty, concerns remain over where to keep children and senior citizens safe.
“It is difficult to leave the house we built with hard work over many years. Even if we leave, we are not sure whether we will be able to return. Living under a tarpaulin is also unsafe until we are shifted to a safe place,” said landslide victim Dharma Thapa.
Local Jivan Thapa said fear spreads through the village as soon as clouds appear in the sky. “Earlier, we thought we would be safe after leaving the house, but now we are afraid even when we see clouds, wondering whether it will rain and trigger a landslide,” he said.
Tribeni Municipality Mayor Karna Bahadur Thapa said the entire village needs to be relocated because cracks in the ground and collapsed land have increased the possibility of landslides at any time.
He said immediate relief had been provided to displaced and at-risk families for food and shelter, but a long-term solution is necessary and beyond the municipality’s capacity.
“Two families were displaced yesterday. We have provided some assistance to other at-risk families for food and temporary shelter under tarpaulins,” Mayor Thapa said. “Given the condition of the land, relocation is the safest option, but the municipality does not have the capacity for that. Support from the provincial and federal governments is needed.”
Cultivable Land Also at Risk
Agriculture is the main livelihood of Tamsu residents. However, the landslide has put both homes and cultivable land at risk. Cracks in the fields have damaged crops including rice, corn and vegetables.
Local Chand Thapa said erosion by the Budhiganga River below the village and road construction in the middle and upper parts of the settlement have increased the risk as rainwater flows toward the village.
“With the fields that produce enough food for the whole year now at risk, there is concern about food shortages,” he said. “The problem is not only saving houses but also the loss of cultivable land.”
The landslide has damaged about 60 ropanis of cultivable land in Tamsu. Local Damm Thapa said planted crops have been completely destroyed, while drinking water and electricity services have also been disrupted.
Demand for Safe Shelter
With the risk of landslides increasing, locals have demanded immediate relocation to a safer place, saying the problem cannot be resolved by temporarily living under tarpaulins.
Affected families have demanded an immediate geological study of the village to identify areas that are safe for habitation and those at higher risk. They have also demanded that families living in vulnerable areas be relocated to safer locations and necessary infrastructure be built.
“We have to live in fear. When clouds appear in the sky, our eyes turn toward the mountains. When it starts raining, our attention turns to the ground. We have to see whether a new crack has appeared,” said local Tek Thapa. “That is why we do not need relief, but safe shelter. The local level should take the initiative for that.”
The District Disaster Management Committee has stated that all nine local levels of Bajura are at high risk of floods and landslides. The ‘Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan, 2083’ also identifies all nine local levels of the district as being at high risk.
According to the committee, the district as a whole remains vulnerable to disasters due to its steep terrain, weak soil structure, river erosion, unplanned road construction and the increasing impacts of climate change.