Kathmandu, July 4

State Affairs Committee of the Legislature Parliament today instructed the government to set up a special structure for the execution of special works with full coordination among government agencies for timely rescue of flood and landslide victims.

After holding discussions with Defence Minister Bhim Rawal, Home Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Chief of Nepali Army Rajendra Chhetri, Nepal Police’s AIG Kedar Saud and AIG of Armed Police Force Krishna Kumar Tamang, SAC came up with the instruction.

Concluding that there is lack of coordination among various government bodies in rescue activities, the SAC also instructed the government to remain prepared to mitigate the loss of life and property caused due to natural calamities, and to ensure effective rescue and relief for the affected people.

The government has recorded 92 incidents of floods and landslides between April 13 to July 3, according to Home Minister Basnet. He informed the House panel that 32 people were killed, 48 injured and 17 had gone missing due to floods and landslides.

At least 104 houses were fully damaged and 157 were partially damaged. He also claimed that the government was doing its best to rescue victims and to provide relief to them.

Rawal informed that three helicopters were kept on stand-by in Kathmandu, Biratnagar and Nepalgunj for immediate rescue operation if the need arose. He also informed that the government was in the process of procuring three more helicopters for rescue purpose.

Meanwhile, lawmakers of the committee, including Nabindra Raj Joshi, Yubraj Gyanwali, Sanjaya Kumar Gautam and Gangalal Tuladhar criticised the government for not adopting disaster preparedness and failing to rescue victims.

The lawmakers urged the government to arrange at least one helicopter for each province. They also blamed the government for not abiding by its public statements and commitments.