Surkhet/jajarkot, Aug. 24 -- Deven-dra Karki of Jajarkot is in a bind. The maize in his field is ready to harvest but he has nowhere to take the crop. Devendra had planted maize on nearly eight ropanis of land, enough to feed his seven-member family for much of the year. But his house in Bheri Municipality-2 was destroyed in last week's landslides that left four dead and 11 injured. Most of those who survived, including Devendra and his family, are currently taking shelter at a local school.

Devendra's neighbour Ratna Bahadur Karki faces a similar dilemma. He had been living in a temporary shelter since the 2023 earthquake destroyed his house. A landslide has now reached within about 50 metres above the shelter. "The rain has not stopped...