Kathmandu. Monsoon-related disasters have increased rapidly in Nepal in the last 10 years. According to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 2,317 people lost their lives in monsoon-related disasters from 2072 to 2081.
A total of 8,418 disasters were reported during the period due to monsoon-related floods, inundation, soil erosion, heavy rainfall, lightning and flash floods. As many as 56,705 families have been affected by these incidents. Similarly, 36,479 houses, 195 bridges and 1,346 sheds were damaged.
A total of 495 people lost their lives due to monsoon-related disasters in 2081 BS. That year, 344 people lost their lives due to landslides, 91 due to floods, eight due to heavy rains and 52 due to lightning. A total of 18 people are still missing due to floods and 48 due to landslides this year.
Impact of landslides on mortality is greater
An analysis of the data shows that the loss of human lives due to landslides is high. A total of 1,296 people have lost their lives due to landslides in the last 10 years. Similarly, 539 people have lost their lives due to floods and 385 due to lightning.
A total of 2,649 people were injured and 419 went missing during the period. According to statistics, most of the landslides are due to landslides. A total of 3,532 landslides took place during the period, leaving 1,136 injured and 17,236 families affected.
Geologist Dr Subodh Dhakal has said that although the flood forecasting system has improved, landslide forecasting is still challenging. “Earlier, many people used to lose their lives due to floods, but now the loss of life and property has been reduced due to the improvement of the forecasting system,” he said. It is still difficult to predict landslides. ‘
According to Dr Dhakal, the risk is also increasing as many settlements in the hills are staying in the area of the old landslide. According to him, the chances of landslides in such places are high.
Dhakal said that the risk is increasing due to the lack of scientific methods during the construction of roads and other infrastructures. “At the time of digging the road, it is found that sensitive places are constructed without identifying them. The practice of not using technology properly continues. Similarly, there is a tendency to build houses where there is land. Houses are being built without analyzing whether the place is prone to landslides or not,” he said, “So the land use policy should be scientific and systematic.” Long-term thinking, proper use of scientific planning and technology, development of landslide forecasting system are essential for natural disaster mitigation. ‘
More rainfall this year
The Meteorological Department has predicted more rainfall than the average during this year’s monsoon period. Director General of the Department, Kamal Ram Joshi, said that there is a possibility of more rainfall than the average in most parts of the country during the four months of monsoon.
Most parts of the country are likely to receive more rainfall this monsoon season. There is a possibility of 55 to 65 percent rainfall in the eastern region of Karnali Province, northern region of Lumbini and most parts of Gandaki Province,” he said, adding that there is a possibility of more than 45 to 55 percent rainfall in the southern region of Sudurpaschim Province, western region of Lumbini, north-eastern region of Gandaki province, northern region of Bagmati and Koshi province. ”
Similarly, there is a 35 to 45 per cent chance of average rainfall in the eastern and southern regions of Madhes province, while the chances of rainfall are 35 to 45 per cent in the rest of the country, joshi said.
This time two million will be affected
About two million people are estimated to be affected by monsoon-related disasters this year. The National Action Plan for Monsoon Preparedness and Response, 2082 prepared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has made this assessment.
NeA Executive Chief Dinesh Prasad Bhatta said that 1,997,731 population of around 457,145 households across the country is estimated to be affected by mansu-related disasters this year.
He also informed that necessary preparations have been made keeping this in mind. “It is estimated that 20 lakh people will be directly and indirectly affected by the monsoon this time, while 200,000 people are expected to be directly affected. We are preparing to manage the relief in some way or the other,” he said, adding, “We are training volunteers at the local level.” We have kept it ready in coordination with the security agencies. We have strengthened the local level by giving various trainings. In coordination with the Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs, we have requested to stop vehicles during the disaster. ‘
Emphasis on information management
Binod Parajuli, a flood expert at the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, said the weather room would be active for 24 hours during the monsoon period and early warning about floods and inundation would be made public through SMS, telephone and voice message system. According to him, the citizens will get information directly from the number ‘1155’.
These are other preparations
According to the NRA, the local levels have been asked to keep the rivers and rivulets open, keep the drainage system open, warn the landslide-prone areas and give priority to the construction of temporary shelters in safe places and rescue teams have been prepared at all local levels.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been handed over between the Airlines Operators’ Association and the AUTHORITY regarding the deployment of rescue teams at various helicopter bases and the use of private helicopters for air rescue in disaster response.
“We have learned the necessary lessons by analyzing the good and bad aspects of disaster management in the past. Where did it go well? Where did we go? We have reviewed what could have been better. On the basis of that, we have prepared a response plan this year,” said Bhatta, executive chief of NEA. Therefore, we believe that our plan will be more successful and effective than in the past. ‘
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्