Addressing Nepal’s vulnerability to water-induced disasters

As reports are pouring in from various parts of the country, the massive floods, landslides and inundation triggered by the incessant rainfall for the past few days has caused death of at least 170 people across the country as of Sunday evening. The latest reports released by the Home Ministry indicates that around 42 people are missing in various places in the country and 111 people are left injured by the water-induced disasters. The unprecedented rainfall, not seen for the last several decades, has wreaked havoc across the country including the federal capital Kathmandu, leaving hundreds of houses completely inundated and displacing thousands of people. Furthermore, the water-induced disasters have caused loss of properties worth billions across the country. Almost all major highways across the country have been damaged due to the flood and landslides, bringing vehicular movement to a complete halt on the eve of the country’s two major festivals. Although the Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) predicted the massive rainfall early on this time, government authorities did not seem to have been able to make adequate preparations to minimize the damage. While this situation shows the need of ensuring additional preparedness to reduce the impacts of water-induced disasters, it has also highlighted the need to build disaster-resilient infrastructures. Although the municipal authorities in Kathmandu Valley have enforced building codes and designate the area as residential, these codes do not seem enough in terms of the potential impacts of water-induced-disasters. The way major infrastructures including the road and bridges were destroyed by the floods across the country also shows that adequate considerations were not given to make them disaster resilient. It is high time all stakeholders including the government agencies keep these things in mind while taking any policy decisions and building such vital development infrastructures. 

Nepal is considered highly vulnerable in terms of the impact of climate change. The water-induced disasters are becoming very common lately with cases of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Solukhumbu and erratic rainfall patterns being reported time and again. The flash flood that damaged the multi-billion-dollar Melamchi Water Supply Project in Sindhupalchowk a few years ago should serve as a reminder that our development projects including major road infrastructures are highly vulnerable to water-induced disasters. It is troubling to note that the flood and landslides in the past few days has caused at least 1.75 billion worth damages to 20 different hydropower projects developed by the private sector. According to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN), the damage caused by the floods and landslides to various other power plants developed by the private sector are yet to be received due to lack of communication and broken-down access roads to reach the project sites to assess the damages caused. This highlights the need for careful consideration of the potential impacts of disasters on any major development projects so that the potential loss can be minimized. The role of weather forecasting mechanisms is also equally important in this regard. Although the MFD predicted heavy rainfall this time early on, ordinary people also did not seem to have taken this seriously or they were not aware of the weather alert. The fact that several passenger vehicles were traveling with passengers on board shows that both passengers and vehicle owners either ignored or were not aware of such alerts. The government agencies along with other stakeholders must work towards creating awareness among people about such alerts through various mass media and publicity campaigns and even take administrative measures to those flouting such alerts through police administration. 

As the government gears up relief and rehabilitation efforts to those affected by the flood and landslides, we urge the government to take necessary measures to minimize loss of life and property in the case of similar events in the future. In this particular case, it seems the government agencies did not even foresee the dangers of water-induced disasters such as floods in Kathmandu Valley, although, of course, they seem to have made some preparations to tackle major earthquakes in Kathmandu Valley. Concerned government agencies must work towards checking haphazard settlement even on the bank of rivers, which could easily overflow in the event of incessant rainfall for a few days. Above all, the government must make appropriate policy-level decisions to make all the infrastructures it develops disasters-resilient. This may require adequate geological studies and proper assessment of the possible risk of water-induced disasters such as flood and landslides. At this hour of national grief, we extend heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and urge the government to provide necessary support including compensation and free of cost treatment to all those affected by the floods and landslides and provide treatment to those injured. As the country's two major festivals-Dashain and Tihar-are just around the corner, we also urge the government to expedite the repair and reconstruction of roads damaged by the recent floods and landslides to ensure smooth travel for people to their homes. This incident must serve as a reminder for us all of the importance of building disaster- resilient infrastructures and creating awareness among people about the weather alert.