More than 1 million people likely to be affected by this year’s monsoon

Kathmandu: It is estimated that more than one million people will be affected by this year’s monsoon which starts from mid-June and lasts for about 100 days.

During the meeting of the Executive Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management held at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday, officials said that the population likely to be affected by the monsoon will be 1,254,181 and 286,998 households will likely be affected.

Ilam, Panchthar, Dhankuta, Tehrathum, OKhaldunga, Lalitpur, Nuwakot, Dhading, Tanahun, Syanja, Palpa, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Baglung, Pyuthan, Rolpa, West Rukum, Dailekh, Accham and Baitadi are the most vulnerable districts to the monsoon-triggered landslides.

Likewise, the frequently affected districts by the flooding during monsoon include Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet, Kailali and Kanchanpur.

The 18the meeting of the committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha also approved the National Action Plan for Monsoon Preparedness and Response (2023) to prevent and reduce the possible damages during monsoon.

DPM Shrestha directed all bodies to pay attention to disaster risk reduction by mobilizing available means and resources to the utmost. He also said that all bodies should focus on the implementation of the work plan by avoiding past weaknesses and carelessness.

Health Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet shared that the formulation of systematic work plan will garner citizen-level support, committing himself to support actively during the implementation of the work plan.

Anil Pokhrel, the executive chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Authority, estimated that more than 12 lakhs people are likely to be affected by monsoon-driven disaster and informed about the additional preparation.

Pokhrel also mentioned that arrangements have been made to install smart sirens in 34 places of the country, purchase disaster rescue vehicles and provide ‘A class’ ambulance each in all provinces and Kathmandu valley for early warning and preparedness.

Similarly, he also talked about the warehouse resource management system to provide information on stored emergency equipment and materials and the volunteer management system to give details of volunteers involved in search and rescue.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 1, 00,422 volunteers have been enlisted so far for search, rescue and relief distribution.