Kathmandu, February 23

A total of 443 people lost their lives to various natural calamities across the country in the past 10 months alone, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The home ministry’s report was released at a discussion programme with mediapersons organised here today by the Forum for Women, Law, and Development under the theme of ‘Policy Plan on Disaster Management and Legal Management’.

The figure of people killed in various natural disasters such as epidemics, floods, storms, rain, and altitude sickness outnumbered those killed in landslides, which stands at 145.

At the event, joint-secretary at the ministry Shankar Hari Adhikari said a total of 9,217 people were killed, 236 had gone missing, and 22,652 were injured in the 2015 earthquakes and other disasters last year.

Similarly, Chief at the law division of home ministry Nirmala Adhikari informed that the ministry was doing its homework to implement the act related to disasters, identify open spaces and take disaster preparedness measures.

Also, Chairperson of the forum and advocate Mira Dhungana stressed on including issues relating to disaster preparedness in school curricula to raise awareness about natural disasters.