Toddler killed, three injured as landslide buries house in Mugu

By Hari Krishna Aidi, Mugu, July 26: A 25-month-old boy was killed and three others injured after a landslide carrying rocks struck a house in Pulu Bazaar of Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality-5, Mugu, early on Saturday morning.

According to Baliraj Budha, chief of the health section at Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality, the landslide occurred at around 3:00 a.m. when the family of 32-year-old Jaganath Baduwal of Chhayanath Rara Municipality-13, Tirpgaun, was asleep in a hotel they were operating in a rented house owned by Pema Chhorjeng Torchi Tamang.

Jagannath Baduwal, his 27-year-old wife Srijana Baduwal, their 25-month-old son Ramesh Baduwal and 32-year-old Banchya Aidi were trapped in the landslide.

With the assistance of locals and police, all four were rescued and taken to Pulu Health Post for treatment. However, Ramesh Baduwal died during treatment at around 5:45 a.m., Budha said.

The other injured, Jagannath Baduwal, Srijana Baduwal and Banchya Aidi, received treatment and are reported to be in stable condition. The Health Section also said that medicines stored at the Pulu Health Post were damaged by the landslide.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Rabiraj Thapaliya of the District Police Office, Mugu, the child’s post-mortem examination has been completed. He said the landslide also buried Jagannath Baduwal’s cash, household belongings and jewellery.

Chief District Officer and Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Committee Poshan Raj Bhandari said the landslide, which originated about 200 metres above the settlement, completely destroyed the houses of Pema Chhorjeng Torchi Tamang and Pema Sangya Lama, while six other houses sustained partial damage.

Residents of all eight affected households have been relocated to safer locations, he said.