Kathmandu— Following recent floods and landslides that caused significant loss of life and property damage in Nepal’s Rolpa district, a delegation of people's representatives met with Prime Minister Balendra Shah to request immediate government assistance. The group, led by former Minister Barsha Man Pun, emphasized the need for search and rescue operations, medical care for the injured, compensation for bereaved families, shelter for those displaced, and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure in the affected areas of Gam village and Uwa village. The meeting took place at Singh Durbar in Kathmandu on Monday.

Urgent Appeals from Rolpa

People’s representatives from Rolpa, including former Minister Barsha Man Pun, sought an audience with Prime Minister Shah to highlight the severity of the situation caused by landslides in Soonchhahari Rural Municipality-2 and Thawang Rural Municipality-5. Pun, a leader of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), detailed specific requests during the meeting, focusing on both immediate emergency response and long-term recovery efforts for those impacted by the disaster.

Specific Requests to the Prime Minister

Pun urged the prime minister to prioritize the search and rescue of missing individuals, provide free medical treatment to those injured in the landslides, and offer appropriate compensation to families who lost loved ones. He also requested immediate shelter and rehabilitation support for displaced residents, as well as timely reconstruction of damaged infrastructure. Recognizing the geographical challenges posed by Rolpa district, Pun further asked that a standby rescue team with access to a helicopter be maintained for future disaster response.

Government Response and Pledges

Prime Minister Shah responded to the delegation’s concerns by stating that state agencies were already engaged in rescue operations following the Uwa incident. He assured the representatives that instructions had been issued to provide relief to victims and pledged support for the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and restoration of disrupted public services. Former provincial minister Sudarshan Baral Magar, NCP Lumbini province coordinator Abdul Hussein Khan, and co-coordinator Krishna Adhikari also participated in the meeting.

Local Support Mobilized

In addition to seeking national government support, people’s representatives from Rolpa have committed to contributing one month's salary towards rescue and relief efforts. They are also appealing to the public for assistance in providing aid and supporting the rehabilitation of those affected by the landslides and floods.

People’s representatives continue to advocate for swift action and comprehensive support for the victims of the Rolpa landslides, emphasizing the need for both immediate relief and long-term reconstruction efforts.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.