Apropos of the news stories “Dozens of settlements inundated”, “Hundreds of houses flooded” (THT, June 22, Page 5) and “Monsoon adds to earthquake victims’ woes” (THT, June 23, Page 5) and other similar stories, with the onset of monsoon, Nepal, like in the past years, is certain to witness severe water-induced disasters.

Every year Nepal records heavy loss of lives, property and infrastructure to flash flooding, inundation, landslips and various health hazards.

Needless to say, the Tarai districts and the settlements on the banks of rivers are always at higher risk of floods whilst the hilly and mountainous districts with topographical vulnerability experience landslides.

With the incessant rainfall continuing for hours and level of rivers rising, annually human settlements are flooded, ravaged, swept away and displaced.

At a time when the government is drawing flak for snail paced reconstruction and with the earthquake victims of last year still living in poorly managed makeshift shelters, the plight of victims is likely to be exacerbated.

Furthermore, vehicular movements and other services are brought to a grinding halt for hours or even for days as floods and landslides obstruct various road stretches, leading to delay in humanitarian responses.

Besides, as the normal life activities are badly affected following the disruptions caused by these disasters, the economy of the country already hit hard by multiple setbacks incurs a huge loss.

Despite the direction issued by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development on June 15 to the district development offices and municipalities to stay on high alert, no such preparedness is seen there.

Som Nath Ghimire, Kathmandu

Rampage

The picture showing a human-buffalo conflict dismayed me, “Buffalo goes on rampage” (THT, June 24, Page 2).

No sooner had we heard about Leo-human encounter in Kathmandu than its crowded street witnessed another bovine-human conflict. Such animal-human conflicts make me distressed.

Whenever I see or hear such vile news, it takes me a few days to recover from such trauma. However, I can only feel pity for what the wild animals were enduring at such a moment.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City officials suspected that the buffalo entered the street after escaping from a slaughterhouse. Reportedly, the water buffalo had got an injury mark on its head that was caused by the police personnel while trying to bring it under control.

This sorrowful scene displays how we behave with innocent animals who also need proper treatment and care even at a slaughter house.

This kind of horrific situation would not have arisen had the concerned authorities regularly inspected the slaughterhouses run by some people who do not follow the proper guidelines or do not have any facility that can be called a slaughterhouse as such.

Taking even this into account, the government must enforce the law related to slaughterhouses.

Sanjog Karki, Tansen