Provide relief to victims

This year’s late monsoon triggered floods and landslides in the mid- and far-west regions of the country displacing hundreds of families. Furthermore, it has affected more than 15,000 families in one way or the other. Worse, more families in the regions – the most neglected in the entire country on every conceivable count – are being displaced on a daily basis. While the plains have been hit by floods, the hilly areas have been bearing the brunt of the late monsoon due to landslides in many places. Harvest-ready paddy, stored food grains, cattle and houses have been destroyed.



Reports from Mahendranagar said that Bhimdatta Municipality 11 in Kanchanpur district area has been inundated after the Mahakali River swelled following the diversion of water in the Sharda Barrage by the Uttar Pradesh government in neighboring India. The Mahakali has been breaching its embankments at several places. The water from the Mahakali that flows onto the Indian territory from Banbasa bridge at other times has been regulated at the barrage by Indian officials this time, diverting the swollen river toward Dodhara and Chandani and Bhimdatta 11 and 13 along the river. We ask the Nepal government to take up the issue with their Indian counterpart. Accusations about the release of excess water during monsoons are leveled from either side almost every year. We should avoid unnecessary politicization of the annual problem faced by people living on either side of the international border while, at the same time, work at drawing a long-term plan to meet the consequences of natural disasters.



As usual, the authorities have been found wanting in their response. We ask the government to keep the Department of Water-Induced Disaster prevention battle ready throughout the year. Natural disasters are common in Nepal; preparing for these may go a long way in at least reducing the loss of lives. The authorities must ensure that those in danger of being swept away by either the landslides or the floods are evacuated to safer places. Apart from that, those taking shelter in schools and other buildings must be provided with adequate food, water, warm clothes and medicines. The government and its agencies were callous, at least initially, in their response following the Koshi floods and diarrhea epidemic. The outbreak of diseases even this time cannot be ruled out once the flood waters recede, thus preparing for any eventuality is the need of the hour.

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