Mudslides from Jabarkot hill threaten Pali village in Pithoragarh
Mudslides from Jabarkot hill threaten Pali village in Pithoragarh
B.D. Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Sept 23
Following sudden mudslides from Jabartok hill of Pali village near the district headquarter, here on September 4, the villagers today reached the office of the District Magistrate requested him to shift them to safer place.
“In a sudden and unexpected event, the Jabartok hill suddenly broke on September 4 resulting into fall of tons of debris that spread in the corridors of our houses. The debris is still coming downwards with water giving sleepless nights to the villagers.” said Jagat Singh Basera, the villager who led the team to District Magistrate’s office.
According to villagers if it rains more the debris will come to their houses making these unliveable. “Before such a situation arrives, the villagers want rehabilitation,” said Mukesh Kumar, another villager with the delegation.
The villagers said that after the mudslides on September 4,most of them have left the village and some are living in panchayat Ghars while others have taken shelter with their relatives. “if not shifted to safe places, we will be compelled to erect tents near district collectorate,” said Govindi Devi, a 75 years old woman who was also part of the procession of the villagers.
Meanwhile, Pithoragarh to Thal road links district headquarter to border town of Munsiyari, was declared open after eight days today “We had to remove five huge boulders, that had fallen on the road from above the hill. With the opening of this road, people from Muwani, Thal and Bungachina were heaved a sigh of relief.
Pithoragarh district administration officials said that over 16 village roads including that from Munsiyari to Milam are still closed in the district.
