Opposition leaders blame flood damage on govt, NCP leader defends it

Published On: July 13, 2019 06:11 PM NPT By: Ajit Rai

KATHMANDU, July 13: The leader of the main opposition Nepali Congress(NC) Pradeep Paudel has accused the government of showing apathy toward adequate preparations for disaster risk reduction.

Speaking at an interaction program organized in the capital on Saturday by Reporter’s Club, Paudel said denizens of Terai region fall prey to flooding each year due to inadequate preparations for disaster risk reduction.

Paudel called for a long-term solution to the flood-triggered problem exacerbated by the embankment with weak foundation by holding a meeting with the Indian government.

Likewise, Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal(RJP-N) Anil Kumar Jha has joined Paudel in blaming the government for the havoc wreaked by flood and landslides triggered by heavy rain.

Speaking at the same program, Jha said the government should make sufficient preparations for disaster risk reduction without blaming the damage caused by flooding in Terai regions on India.

However, Mahesh Basnet, a leader of the ruling Nepal Communist Party(NCP) and a lawmaker, has defended the government.

He said that the government has mobilized all of its mechanisms to neutralize the flood and landslides triggered by incessant heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, issuing a press release on Saturday, Rastriya Prajatantra Party(RJP), has urged the government, all political parties and Nepali people to engage in rescue and relief efforts.

It has also offered its deep condolences to the bereaved families whose members were killed in flood and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in different parts of the country.

Similarly, the ruling Nepal Communist Party(NCP) has urged its members to begin rescue and relief efforts as soon as possible issuing a press release.

The flood and landslides triggered by continuous rainfall have left at least 32 dead and 12 injured. At least 17 persons have gone missing. As many as 27,830 police personnel have been mobilized to rescue victims of flood and landslides that occurred on Saturday and Sunday.