Kathmandu, July 25: Lack of proper drainage and incessant rain has left many parts of the Kathmandu valley waterlogged. Although the water levels in the rivers inside the valley are decreasing, settlements have been waterlogged due to the lack of proper drainage inside the Valley.
Various settlements including Maitidevi, Basundhara, Naya Bazaar, Anamnagar and areas around Bauddha were waterlogged by the heavy rainfall on Friday night. In addition, the Mulpani area alongside the Manohara River was flooded by the continuous rainfall as well.
Two settlements in Humla at high risk of flood, landslide
According to experts, the lack of proper drainage systems in the Kathmandu Valley is one of the main factors behind inundation in settlements due to continuous rainfall in the region. Despite the problems faced by the residents who are prone to flooding in their areas, the government has not taken any action to solve the problem. As open spaces start to decrease in the urban areas, the risk of flooding will increase if proper drainage systems are not installed, Gopal Neupane, a local from Anamnagar said.
The Disaster Management Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs has warned the locals of settlements near the rivers to be alert, as they are prone to floods. According to spokesperson for the ministry, Janakraj Dahal, the urban areas inside the valley are prone to flooding due to the lack of river management and drainage.
Furthermore, many places inside the Kathmandu Valley have experienced waterlogging in recent years due to the lack of proper management of rainwater. Also, the rivers such as Bagmati, Bishnumati, Dhobi Khola, Hanumante in Bhaktapur and the Karmanasa River in Lalitpur are prone to flooding in the rainy season.
