Sluggish governments

Sluggish governments  

When the government and its concerned authorities, be at the local, provincial or at the central level, do not feel responsible, sensible and accountable to the people's plight and failed to timely act, many innocent people lose their lives as the many village people in Golche Lidi village in Jugal Rural Municipality-2, Sindhupalchok district lost their lives during the recent landslide. 

The Oli led government has totally failed in two fronts at this time, one: in the handling of dreadful corona virus situation and the other: in minimizing the effect of natural calamities on human casualties and destruction of human settlement. Had it taken prompt action showing its seriousness to address the hardships of the people, the natural disaster could have been avoided or minimized. 

Shame on the government who does not hesitate to claim to be the strongest two thirds majority government in the political history of Nepal.

‘We had long been asking the authorities to move us to safer locations’

Lidi villagers say they knew a disaster was coming as the area weakened by the 2015 earthquakes was experiencing landslides since the start of the monsoon season. 

On Friday morning, when her house began to wobble, the first thought that crossed Junmaya Tamang’s mind was an earthquake. Then there was a deafening bang, uncharacteristic of an earthquake, just before her house started shaking violently. She was on the terrace to retrieve the corn kernels she had left to dry and when she heard the noise, her instinct told her to flee. But before she could make a move, a large mass of mud and stones came hurtling down the hill. She was knocked out cold by a stone. 

https://tkpo.st/3gTW14i

18 bodies recovered from Lidi landslide; 21 are still missing

One hundred and thirty-five displaced families are staying in Lapsedanda.

The local people say that Friday's disaster could have been avoided had the authorities listened to their concerns. As many as 170 families in the area had submitted separate memorandum to the District Natural Disaster Management Committee, the District Administration Office and the local unit on August 7, mentioning about the landslide risk in their settlement. They had also urged the authorities to relocate them to a safer location. 

The villagers had gone to Baskharka area in Jugal-1 a month ago with a plan to stay in the forest area, fearing a landslide in their settlement. But soon they were turned away by the forest authority.

https://tkpo.st/312onnD