Shardadevi Sedhai, aged 45, lived with her 45-year-old daughter Indra in a house at Tari in Sandakpur-3 Sulubung. Since the house was on a rocky land, no one thought that there would be a landslide. Both Sharda and Indra died after the incessant rain that started from the night of October 18 washed away the mound above the house and buried it in the house. The water from the river opened up the ground and took the form of a landslide.

"Nobody expected that there would be a landslide in this place, disasters don't distinguish between tar and steep land," said neighbor CP Sharma Gadtaula, "There was a landslide that kept moving for twelve months above the house of Sedhain, the water has been blocked by the collapse of a small mound. After it started pouring, the same water dug the bamboo rafters of the house and took the form of a landslide to the house, where the mother and daughter were sleeping.

Khomadevi Gadtaula, another neighbor, said that due to the heavy rain with thunder and lightning throughout the night, none of the neighbors even noticed that the landslide had occurred there. "After morning, I saw that the house was buried. After giving up, the mother and daughter were not alive when the neighbors and the police removed the landslide," she said.

Ilam Municipality-6 6 people were killed when a landslide hit the house of Viraj Pakhrin Tamang of Ghos place. There, 6 people, including 3 from the Tamang family and 3 who were guests, lost their lives in one place.

Ilam journalist Satendra Jabegu said that no one has ever predicted the risk of landslides in this place. "Having lived there for years, we never and no one expected that a landslide would occur. Six people lost their lives when the rocks and mud that came from the landslide that fell at a high altitude hit us," he said.

By Sunday evening, at least 37 people have died in Suryodaya Municipality of Ilam, 6 in Ilam Municipality, 6 in Sandakpur Rural Municipality, 3 in Mangsebung Rural Municipality, 8 in Mai Jogmai Rural Municipality, 8 in Deumai Municipality, and 1 in Phakphokthum Rural Municipality. Among those who lost their lives, 17 were men and 20 were women. It is mentioned in the data published by District Administration Office Ilam that there are 8 children.

1 person is missing in Ilam municipality due to a landslide. Three of the 20 injured were rescued by an army helicopter at various locations in Ilam. Rupesh Tamang, Information Officer of District Police Office Panchthar, said that 1 person died in Tumwewa Rural Municipality of Panchthar and 1 person died in Falgunand Rural Municipality due to landslides. 

A few days ago, the Water and Weather Forecasting Division had predicted floods and disaster events with heavy rain from August 17 to 20. Accordingly, the disaster management committee of Ilam and Panchthar identified the possible places where the flood could occur. Ilam's Disaster Management Committee had identified more than 20 places at risk from roadblocks, floods, landslides, inundation and erosion.

The chief district officer of Ilam, Sunita Nepal, says that among the landslides on Saturday, no place other than the Rajduwali area is listed as a risk area. "We told the locals to stay safe as there is danger from both flood and landslides in Rajduwali, but the landslides in the rest of the places are unexpected," said Nepal. This time, he believes that rain during the night and burial in the places where people are sleeping are also the reasons for the damage. Ilam received 334 mm of rain on Saturday alone.

Desperate for rescue

There was a desperation for rescue as landslides caused huge damage in different places of Ilam. Nepali Army, Police, Armed Police and locals cooperated due to landslides in different places and difficult geography. Prazia Nepal says that with everyone's cooperation, the dead bodies and the injured could be rescued.

Hundreds of houses are at risk in various villages of Ilam due to landslides. She said that the process has been started to provide relief as well as transfer the citizens of the houses buried by landslides and those who are at risk to a safe place. She said that by Sunday evening, 41 families including 26 from Rajduwali area of ​​Elam and 15 from Maiko Chepti have been shifted to safe places. According to Prazia Nepal, arrangements have been made to provide relief and temporary accommodation to the displaced persons from the concerned municipality.

My river washed away the entire settlement 

The severe flood that came after the incessant rain has washed away the entire settlement on the banks of the Mai river in Ilam municipality-10 Rajduwali. Around 30 houses were swept away by the midnight flood. According to local Dukpa Vishwakarma, the villagers were fast asleep when the flood came. He said that he saved his life by running away without taking off anything except the clothes he was wearing.

Mai Khola washed away 30 houses of Dipen Rai, Dhanpati Dulal, Dukpa Vishwakarma, Padam Rai, Dhanraj Subba, Shukre Tamang, Taramani Darzi, Dawa Sherpa, Suresh Gurung, Himal Meche, Tara Thapa, Amrit Rai, Dumbar Rai, Yam Bahadur Baraili, Jung Bahadur Nepali, Amber Tamang, Meen Bahadur Thapa and Vinod Panchkoti, according to District Police Office Ilam.

The police said that rescue operations are becoming difficult because the Mechi highway has also been washed away by the flood of the Mai river. Due to flood, there is a problem in the transport operation in Mechi Madhya Pahari and Tamor Corridor. The gadtir of Mai Khola was at risk from the point of view of catastrophic events. The local administration had repeatedly requested to stay safe. However, the locals could not leave their homes. Locals say that they managed to escape because they heard a terrible sound when the river began to flood.