KATHMANDU, Oct 20: Even after the end of the rainy season, the incidence of floods and inundation has increased across the country due to heavy rains in the last few days. Experts say that this type of unseasonal rainfall may be due to climate change. People's lives have been affected by the disasters caused by the change in the traditional patterns of monsoon and climate.

Anil Pokharel, executive chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), said that climate change could be a major factor in the rapid onset of extreme weather events. “Studies may be needed to determine the major factors behind this, but climate change is clearly responsible for such disasters,” he said.

Referring to the upcoming UN Climate Conference in Glasgow, UK in the next few days, he pointed out that Nepal needs to raise the issue of damage caused by climate-related disasters.

"The agricultural sector is at high risk due to change in weather and farmers are particularly vulnerable," said Pokharel. Raju Pandit, director of Prakriti Resources Center, a non-governmental organization working in the field of environment and climate change, said that it is necessary to give priority to tackling and adapting to regional climate change. He said that the damage can be reduced by expanding the weather forecasting capacity and strengthening the flow of information.

Natural disasters such as 'extreme rainfall' in various regions, severe forest fires, floods and landslides in hilly and mountainous areas, inundation and drought in the Terai region are believed to be directly linked to climate change.

Similarly, floods, landslides and inundation have occurred not only in Nepal but also in various states of India due to inclement weather. According to Indian media, floods have killed 25 people in Kerala and 16 in Uttarakhand.

A scientific report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in August showed that climate change has been affecting water, land and air causing rising global temperatures, hot air, excessive rainfall, drought, famine and flooding worldwide.

 
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