KAILALI, July 13: Even during normal rainy days, social media is filled with the pictures of inundation in Dhangadhi. Pictures and videos of water-logged settlements are found on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites. Inundation and waterlogging has become a very complex problem in Dhangadhi since 2040 BS. This is confirmed by the data released by various organizations. The problem is getting worse every year as the bodies concerned are not ready to manage Dhangadhi, which has been facing the problem of inundation and waterlogging for the past 39 years.
Even though Dhangadhi, a major business and political center in the far west, has been inundated for a long time, the people of Dhangadhi are forced to suffer as the bodies concerned have not taken any initiative to solve the problem. It is mentioned in the local adaptation action plan for disaster management published by Dhangadhi Sub-metropolis that Dhangadhi has been facing inundation for the past 39 years. Even after a light rain, 71 villages and settlements in all 19 wards of Dhangadhi face inundation and waterlogging. According to the statistics, there have been 50 small and big floods in the sub-metropolis in the last 39 years. The Mohana River, Ghuraha, Ghurhi River, Sukuti, Kailali Nala, Ratopul Nala, Behdi-Jyoti School Nala, Zipraka Nala, Setopul Nala and other rivers and streams have inundated villages and settlements in Dhangadhi.
The report of 'Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan 2079' prepared by the District Administration Office, Kailali, states, “Effective disaster response is needed in Kailali district.”
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Statistics show that 14 people have lost their lives in the floods in Dhangadhi since 2040 BS. Twelve people were killed in the floods that hit Shivtal and other settlements in Ward 14 in 2042 BS. Statistics show that one person died due to floods in Kailali Nala of Ward 4 in 2043 BS and one person died due to the flood in Ghasita tole of Ward 16 in 2074 BS.
In 2040 BS, 5,259 houses were inundated in Dhangadhi while 116 houses and cowsheds were damaged by floods and inundation. It is mentioned in the local adaptation action plan for disaster management that 793 households in Dhangadhi have been displaced due to floods and inundation. The Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City has data that 1,065 bighas of cultivable land in the Dhangadhi area have been eroded by the floods.
The sub-metropolis has estimated that there will be a lot of damage if floods and inundation occur this year as in previous years. It is estimated that about 22,000 people from 4,861 households in the sub-metropolis will be displaced due to the floods. Despite such data coming out, there is a lack of search, rescue and relief materials in all 13 local units of Kailali, including Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City, according to the District Administration Office. The report of 'Disaster Monsoon Preparedness and Response Plan 2079' prepared by the District Administration Office, Kailali states, “Effective disaster response is needed in Kailali district. But so far, there is a lack of materials in various bodies.”
Social activist Shyam Mahara says that the Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan has not been able to take any concrete steps to solve the problem of floods and inundation in the area. He said that the people of Dhangadhi have to face floods and inundation every year due to the inability of the authorities to control floods and erosion. "Even though the Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City has identified areas of inundation and erosion in the past 39 years, it is irresponsible not to come up with a long-term plan to tackle that," Mahara said.
