KATHMANDU, June 12: It is projected that 1.25 million citizens will be affected by monsoon this year. According to a study conducted by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), an estimated 1.298 million individuals from 286,998 households will be affected by the disaster.
It is estimated that 400,000 people will be affected in Madhesh province and 300,000 people in Koshi province. According to NDRRMA, an estimated 200,000 individuals will be affected in Lumbini Province, 100,000 in Bagmati Province, 147,000 in Sudurpaschim Province, 69,000 in Gandaki Province, and 35,000 in Karnali Province due to the disaster. Around 2 million people were affected last year.
With just a few days left for the start of monsoon season, preparations and response efforts are being intensified rapidly. Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha have already provided instructions to further enhance disaster management work.
The NDRRMA has stated that coordination work, pre-monsoon preparedness, and response activities are being carried out under the National Action Plan. The 18th meeting held on Sunday approved the aforementioned action plan as well.
Mitigating the risk of monsoon-induced disasters
The action plan includes the analysis of monsoon-related risks and the assessment of their impacts, as well as the involvement of various ministries and relevant sectors, non-governmental organizations like the Nepal Red Cross, in working on disaster management, search, rescue, and distribution of relief materials.
Likewise, work division has also been carried out for a resource management system where information about stored and inventory emergency equipment, the management of sources for the distribution system and materials is available and a volunteer management system where details of volunteers involved in search and rescue are available.
According to NDRRMA, arrangements have been made to install smart sirens have been installed in 34 locations across the country, and emergency rescue vehicles and 'A-class' ambulances have been purchased, with one each allocated to all seven provinces and the Kathmandu Valley region. Currently, there is a registered list of 1,422 volunteers in the volunteer system.
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted that there will be less rainfall in the country during this year's monsoon. It is also estimated that the maximum temperature will be higher than in the past due to less rainfall.
Generally, monsoon enters Nepal from mid-June. Kamal Ram Joshi, the Director General of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, has indicated that this year's monsoon is likely to arrive around June 14 or June 15. Monsoon remains active in Nepal for about a hundred days. He has requested not to interpret the fact that it will rain more than the average to mean that there will be no rain and no disaster will come. He said that since it is less than the average, there is a possibility of a disaster, so the preparation work should be carried out rapidly.
Floods, landslides, and heavy rainfall are the major monsoon-related disasters in Nepal. However, the impact of cold waves is also becoming significant, especially during the pre-monsoon period when the heatwave effect is felt. This sequence has been consistently observed in certain districts as well.
According to Meteorologist Shanti Kandel, the maximum temperature has set a record in Ilam, Dharan, Nawalpur, Okhaldhunga and other areas this year. She said that even though there will be some rainfall due to the arrival of monsoon in a few days this year, all should be careful as the heat wave will increase again.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has already directed to come up with concrete proposals on the necessary measures to protect people from the heat waves.
