Two Dead and Three Missing as Landslides Hit Palpa After Heavy Rain

Two people have died and three others remain missing after landslides triggered by continuous rainfall struck several parts of Palpa district, police said.

The deaths were reported in Mathagadhi and Ribdikot rural municipalities as heavy rain caused landslides and flooding across the district.

According to the District Police Office in Palpa, 75-year-old Sher Bahadur Chidi of Rupse Rajgauli in Mathagadhi Rural Municipality-2 and 59-year-old Krishna Kumari Saru of Thimure Dhustung in Ribdikot Rural Municipality-6 died after being caught in landslides.

Saru had initially been reported missing after a landslide buried her house in Dhustung. A search and rescue team later found her body at the site on Saturday afternoon. Police recovered the body and took it to Palpa District Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

The landslide in Dhustung also completely destroyed two houses. Continuous rainfall and further movement of mud, rocks and debris from a motor road above the settlement made rescue operations difficult. Earlier reports said other members of the affected households managed to escape safely.

Three people are still reported missing following landslides in other parts of the district, while authorities continue search and rescue operations.

Bridge Swept Away by Flood

Heavy rainfall has also caused damage to infrastructure in Palpa and surrounding areas.

A bridge over the Kali Gandaki River connecting Syangja and Gulmi was swept away by floodwaters near the dam of the Kali Gandaki Hydropower Project, according to police.

Several roads across Palpa have also been affected by landslides. The Siddhartha Highway has previously been blocked at multiple points, disrupting traffic and making access for emergency and rescue teams more difficult.

Flooding Damages Farmland

Flooding has affected the Madi plain in Palpa, while areas including Jhadewa have also been inundated. The flooding has raised concerns over damage to paddy fields.

In Deugir of Jhadewa, Mathagadhi, cracks have appeared in the ground, putting more than a dozen households at risk, according to local officials.

A landslide has also struck a settlement in Hosdi of Rampur Municipality-10.

With rainfall continuing, authorities are monitoring vulnerable settlements and working to clear blocked roads while search and rescue efforts continue.