KATHMANDU, June 18: The government on Tuesday released Rs 5 million each for flood-hit Kanchanpur and Darchula districts following more than a dozen deaths and property loss of billions in floods and landslides triggered by the ongoing monsoon.
A meeting of the Central Natural Disaster Relief Committee (CNDRC) held at the Ministry of Home Affairs also decided to deploy all government stakeholders in the rescue, relief and search for the missing. The government has instructed the local authorities to help move people from the high-risk sites to safer places and sought information if a helicopter was needed for rescue work. [break]
According to Shankar Koirala, spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs, 18 deaths have been confirmed and 20 are feared missing. He said, “Till late evening we have confirmed lossed including 110 houses totally destroyed, 29 head of livestock dead and some injuries.”
After heavy rains brought destruction to several parts of the Far and Mid-Western Regions, the authorities were put on high alert.
Joint Secretary Laxmi Prasad Dhakal of Natural Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) under the Ministry of Home Affairs said, “The government has left no stone unturned in quick response to the victims and disaster sites.” Because of bad weather they could not send a Nepal Army helicopter in time for rescue work and distribution of relief, he added.
NEOC, established in 2010 to alert stakeholders about disaster, collect information nationwide and analyze the data, operates 24-hours a day. Under Secretary Pradeep Koirala of NEOC said, “With the help of the Department of Hydrology we have been monitoring seven rivers and keeping the areas under risk posted about the situation,” he added. We have an automated system that alerts the center if the water gauge exceeds normalcy, he informed.
Joint Secretary Dhakal said that because of the alarm system at NEOC, we have been able to minimize the risk by shifting people and valuables from the at-risk sites. But in some places relief and rescue teams have not been able to show up because of blocked roads and disrupted communications, he added.
Last year, the number of people killed due to flash floods was 43 and landslides killed another 68.
Some experts and stakeholders have slammed the government´s pre-disaster management strategy and mechanisms. They claimed that the government was effective only after the disaster and there was no pre-disaster management.
“The government has plans and strategies but these couldn´t be implemented for lack of proper legal grounds," said Deepak KC, an expert in climate risk management. Despite some positive efforts by the government, attitudes towards rescue and relief have not changed, he added.
An bill related to disaster management was amended twice and a final draft was to be forwarded by the cabinet to the president but this hasn´t materialize so far. Had the law been endorsed in time the damage level would have been less, KC said.
Experts suggest that the government should formulate development plans in tandem with climate risk management. “Disasters can be reduced and mitigated with the right preparations. The Disaster Management Act must be implemented as soon as possible,” he said.
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