BAGLUNG, JULY 25

At least five persons have lost their lives to lightning in Baglung since mid-March. Loss of lives and property has been increasing due to lightning in the district every year.

It has become a pressing need for citizens also to adopt measures to stay safe from lightning.

In view of rising incidents of monsoon-induced disasters in the district, preparedness for disaster risk reduction and management has been intensified.

If the local government, stakeholders and citizens come together with preparedness, plan and precautionary measures, disaster-induced risks can be minimised.

Disaster risks can be mitigated to some extent if preparedness measures, including identification of risk-prone areas, its classification based on sensitivity, shifting of citizens from disaster-affected areas, human resource management for rescue and treatment for survivors, equipment placement and prompt management of resources and means are put in place.

Assistant Chief District Officer and Information Officer at District Administration Office Ganesh Prasad Poudel said that all stakeholders had been kept in ready-to-move position for disaster risk reduction and management work. 'Preparedness has been intensified after a meeting of the Disaster Management Committee,' he shared. Preparedness for disaster management has to be done at any time but the need of preparedness is more during the rainy season, he said, adding, 'We have formed disaster management committees at all local levels in the district'.

He further informed that the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police are making necessary preparation for the same.

The local governments have been informed to keep available resources and manpower on standby so that they can be instantly mobilised to reduce risks, he said, adding, 'When deemed necessary, district-level disaster management committee is mobilised at the local level.' A 'quick response team' has been formed at all local levels for mitigating disaster-induced risks.

A version of this article appears in the print on July 26, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.