KATHMANDU, AUGUST 19
At least 48 people were killed and 60 others injured in the floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains across the country after the onset of monsoon on June 14. As many as 29 people are still missing.
According to data released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, 52 districts have been affected by rain-induced disasters. They include Bhojpur, Nuwakot, Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Tanahun, Gorkha, Okhaldhunga, Sindhuli, Dailekh, Achham, Jumla, Rukum East, Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha Kaski, Rupandehi, Rautahat, Arghakhanchi, Pyuthan, Bajura, Mugu, Lamjung, Dang, Kailali, Morang, Kanchanpur, Darchula, Sarlahi, Kavre, Terhathum, Rasuwa, Myagdi, Baitadi, among others districts. Of them, Sankuwasabha, Nuwakot, Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga, Arghakhanchui, Dolakha, and Taplejung are worst hit by the disasters.
The MoHA informed that 908 houses were damaged or destroyed due to the floods and landslides, adding that damage assessment was under way. It said the government would provide free treatment to those injured in the floods and landslides. The search for missing persons continues. The MoHA has instructed the local administrations to provide relief and rescue people affected by natural disasters.
As per existing provisions, the government should provide Rs 500,000 to those displaced in the mountain region, Rs 400,000 to those in the hills, and Rs 300,000 for the victims of floods and landslides in the Tarai region to build their houses. If people displaced by the floods and landslides don't own land to build houses, they will get additional Rs 300,000 to purchase land.
If the government cannot provide land to the displaced people, it will build houses for them. The government has also decided to provide a cash relief of Rs 200,000 to the kin of a person killed in the natural disaster and additional Rs 100,000 for another death in the family.
Meanwhile, National Emergency Operations Centre under the MoHA has requested all the federal and provincial ministries, local levels and districts to coordinate for effective disaster preparedness, response and relief operation.
As per the inter-agency coordination, the concerned districts and local levels will be required to conduct monsoon preparedness publicity campaign via community FMs and other media. Similarly, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport will deploy trained human resources with heavy equipment in strategic locations of national highways to clear the possible obstruction of roads and water supply. The Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force will extend necessary support to the concerned agency in search, rescue and relief operations.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 20, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
