Pokhara, July 7

Kaski administration has urged all the residents of landslide and flood prone areas to be more alert and migrate to safer places owing to possible disaster with the onset of monsoon.

District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee Kaski has requested all the people of vulnerable areas through VDC and municipality official,s besides various youth clubs, mothers’ group, security agencies and Red Cross, among others, to be alert.

A meeting of stakeholders today also requested the concerned folks to adopt safety measures to prevent disaster. The committee has also urged the people of security agencies to be on standby for rescue work with necessary rescue equipment before disaster.

Kaski Assistant Chief District Officer Guru Datta Dhakal said the residents of vulnerable geographical locations, including cliffs and river banks have been urged to be more conscious about natural disaster.

The administration has been conducting interactions regarding disaster management among stakeholders, including DDC, Soil Conservation Office, chiefs of security agencies, Red Cross, Care Nepal, officials of education and health offices, VDC secretaries and officials of municipalities and urban development office, among others, frequently to avert human casualty and property loss.

“Discussions have been held on disaster minimisation and loss reduction,” said Assistant CDO Dhakal.

Bam Dev Dhungana, chairperson of Nepal Red Cross Society Kaski chapter, underscored the need of VCA mapping in rural and city areas by government technicians to minimise human casualty and property loss.

Bishnu Pokhrel, Soil Conservation Office Kaski information officer, said that Kaski’s geo structure was vulnerable and posed a great threat to many settlements on the river banks. “Dwellers in such places need to be more conscious about their residential areas. They must know whether their area is safe or not,” said Pokhrel.

Dozens of people have been killed due to flood and landslides almost every year in Kaski. Many of the 32 Kaski VDCs are under great threat of landslide, while many of the city settlements are facing erosion and inundation.

As many as 28 persons were killed and more than 35 disappeared in Kaski when the flooded Seti River swept them away in 2011.

Settlements in Pokhara have been facing flood in Seti, Phurse, Arpan, Bijaypurkhola, among others. Besides there is the problem of sinking land too.

More than 2,000 families are at risky life around Sardi Khola, Hemja, Simpani, Mahendrapul, Ramghat, Chhinnedanda and Lekhnatha areas.

According to District Soil Conservation Office, Kaski, Bhadaure Tamagi, Lumle, Chapkot, Salyan, Dangsing, Sarangkot, Armala, Pumdibhumdi, Deurali, Rupakot, Mijuredanda, Bhachowk, Saimrang, Majhthana, Sildajure, Parche, Mauja and Thumakodanda, among others, are said to be the worst disaster prone VDCs in the district.