Pokhara, 5 October | Nepal is once again grappling with relentless rainfall for over 24 hours, with the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology forecasting its continuation until Monday. This comes before the complete reconstruction of damage caused by last year’s floods and landslides, raising fears of massive new losses. However, unlike previous years, the government has been lauded for establishing an effective information dissemination system, ensuring citizens are aware of the impending disaster. The Department has issued messages urging “extremely high vigilance” in flood and inundation-prone areas. In a critical safety measure, the government has banned all long-distance travel on highways from October 3 to October 6 and directed vehicles to halt movement. Furthermore, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has conducted public announcements (mic-ing) in 63 districts to appeal to citizens to remain safe.
With the Dashain festival concluding and many expected to return to the cities, the Prime Minister’s Office has been continuously working on early warning dissemination. Prime Minister Sushila Karki issued a video message on Saturday evening, urging government bodies to take every precaution and actively engage in rescue and relief efforts. To manage the high-risk situation, the government has stopped all vehicles from entering or leaving the Kathmandu Valley for three days. The NDRRMA has designated holding areas for long-distance vehicles, successfully halting traffic, including vehicles coming via the BP Highway at Kavrebhanjyang and those from Chitwan being held there.
In a move to assist those stranded, the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all local administrations through their Chief District Officers (CDOs) to arrange for and provide food supplies to the affected travelers on the highways. According to NDRRMA Director Dinesh Prasad Bhatta, this directive has been communicated to ensure that local authorities facilitate the necessary arrangements. The government has placed all CDOs on 24-hour alert to swiftly coordinate relief, rescue, and management operations. This preparedness ensures that security agencies are easily accessible to the public during the crisis.
Inside the capital, Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has been highly active, particularly in securing settlements along the Bagmati River Corridor. KMC has conducted listing and public announcements on which schools will serve as safe shelters, successfully relocating residents from high-risk flood-prone areas. The KMC Disaster Management Department is continuously monitoring the water levels of the Bagmati and Vishnumati rivers, coordinating through local ward members for the identification and use of schools as safe shelters. In terms of response, over seven thousand Armed Police Force (APF) personnel have been mobilized, and 26 Disaster Response Bases have been established. Additionally, the Bagmati Province Government formed a ‘Unified Command Team’ led by Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Bania, coordinating the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and APF for rapid rescue and relief operations. Major political parties have also directed their cadres to actively participate in the relief efforts.
