A landslide that occurred on the wee hours of Sunday blocked Kali Gandaki river at a village in Myagdi district in western Nepal, Nepal Police said. So far, no human casualty were reported as yet, it added.

The landslide occurred at Baisari in Ramche village in Myagdi at 1.20 a.m. local time. Police said the landslide created a dam of about 150-200 m deep, a km long and about 100 m wide.

Chief District Officer of Myagdi Tek Bahadur K.C. said the blocking of the river submerged 26 houses in the area. All of the affected people were evacuated to a safer place, he said. Beni-Jomsom road remains blocked.

At high risk are Beni Bazar, district headquarters of Myagdi and Kali Gandaki Hydroelectric project site. Many residents of Beni Bazar have reportedly left the area.

The authorities of the power plant are planning to release stored water to avoid any flash flood, in the event of the temporary dam at Baisari bursting.

Police has issued high alert for nine districts — Mustang, Myagdi, Baglung, Parbat, Gulmi, Syangja, Palpa, Tanahun and Nawalparasi – for settlements along the banks of the river.

A team of experts has left for Myagdi from Pokhara to examine how the blockade could be breached before it triggers flash floods.

Triggering of landslides have been reported in western and central Nepal after the earthquake of April 25 and its aftershock, the most severe of them occurring on May 12. More than 8,600 were killed and over 21,000 injured.
(The Hindu)