KATHMANDU: Residents of Jyamire in Bakaiya Rural Municipality-6, Makwanpur, are living in fear after the ground began cracking and sinking. The distress among locals has intensified following continuous rainfall that began around Sept. 27.
The ground has developed deep fissures across a two-square-kilometer area, with some sections sinking by as much as 12 feet. According to Bakaiya Rural Municipality Vice-Chair Bhakta Bahadur Khatri, eight houses have been completely destroyed, and approximately 80 households are affected. Authorities have relocated residents to temporary shelters for safety.
Local resident Chandramaya Thing described the terrifying moment when cracks appeared inside her home, forcing her family to seek refuge at a local school. Other residents, including 70-year-old Chitra Bahadur Kilung and 84-year-old Ram Bahadur Ghalan, expressed their desperation after losing their homes and called on the government for support and permanent relocation. Ward Chair Phulman Bhamjan noted that the instability has also damaged local roads and tilted electricity poles.
The settlement has existed since 1963. A similar geological incident occurred in 2011, which previously necessitated the relocation of the local Shankheshwari Primary School.
Makwanpur Chief District Officer Basanta Adhikari conducted an on-site inspection on Tuesday. He urged residents to prioritize their safety and remain in designated secure areas. Security personnel from the Phaparwari police station, the Armed Police Force, and the Nepal Army have been deployed to assist with safety measures. Following an inspection, the local disaster management committee has declared the area unsuitable for human settlement.
