DHANGADHI: A cry for help was heard from the Shivaganga River in Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City-17 at around 12 noon. When locals from the nearby Damauliya village arrived at the scene, they saw a woman staying afloat in the water. A few differently-dressed people tied a gallon container to the end of a rope and threw it towards the woman, using it to pull the woman to the riverbank and rescue her. Reportedly, in a serious condition, she was put on a stretcher and carried towards Dhangadhi.

Just within two minutes after this, a cottage in the outskirts of the village caught fire. The homeowner emerged, crying for help. Locals carried buckets full of water from the nearby river and controlled the fire.

Even if these incidents looked very realistic, they were all simulations of incidents in order to practise response to the disaster. Members of Nepal Red Cross Society branch (NRCS), Kailali, who are trained in Skill Development Training for disaster response, were carrying out the simulation in order to help prepare the locals to act in an emergency.

People from 12 various settlements which are under the risk of disaster are being trained for disaster response. The president of NRCS Kailali, Uttam Joshi stressed that training the locals to act in procedure before disaster hit, was very important. He added, "By the time rescue teams arrive there may have occurred a huge loss of property and lives, so the first rescuers on the scene must always be the locals."

Meanwhile, places posing the risk of disasters are being identified while the residents are being trained on disaster response procedures, Joshi informed. He also added that hundreds of trained volunteers have been training various communities.

The NRCS President also pointed out that one Damauliya village was under the risk of floods during monsoon as Shivaganga River surrounded the village from all sides.

Likewise, Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kailali, Baburam Shrestha said that residents of high-risk areas have to be active for rescue and response to the disaster. He advised locals to be aware and be well prepared for relief distribution.  Shrestha lamented that the hilly were prone to landslides while plains were to flood every year, especially during monsoon.

(Translated by Kaustubh Dhital)