Kathmandu, 16 August (H.S.): Three people have died and four others remain missing after a landslide struck the Risad area of Bheri Municipality in Nepal’s Jajarkot district amid continuous rainfall in several parts of the country.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Shailendra Thapa, spokesperson for the Armed Police Force, said a search operation was underway to locate those still missing.

According to police, the bodies of 54-year-old Uma Singh Khatri and 83-year-old Rati Khatri, both from Risad, have been recovered. Fifty-two-year-old Kedar Karki, who was injured in the incident, died while undergoing treatment.

Seventy-year-old Bhim Bahadur Karki, a resident of Chisapani in Bheri Municipality, and 14-year-old Haris BK of Gairigaun are among those still missing.

The landslide also caused extensive damage to eight houses, police said.

The landslide occurred at around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, injuring seven people from the area. They have been identified as 62-year-old Ram Bahadur Shahi, 45-year-old Siddhi Bahadur Kami, 58-year-old Kamala Karki, 23-year-old Anita Karki, 10-year-old Yunis Shahi, 45-year-old Suntali Chadara and 61-year-old Bhadrakala Karki.

Ram Bahadur Shahi and Bhadrakala Karki are reported to be in critical condition. They have been referred to hospitals in Nepalgunj and Surkhet for further treatment.

A joint team comprising personnel from the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force Nepal’s Jajarkot unit and Nepal Police was deployed on Sunday morning to search for the missing people. The operation is being led by Armed Police Inspector Kamal Karki.

A total of 155 personnel from the Armed Police Force Nepal, Nepali Army and Nepal Police have been deployed at the disaster site as part of the rescue and search operation.

Authorities have also relocated around 200 residents of the affected ward to the building of Tribhuvan Basic School as a precautionary measure, given the continuing risk of further landslides.

Relief and rescue operations remain underway in Jajarkot.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar