Natural disasters increases every year in Nepal

Disaster incidence including monsoon has been increasing in the last few years in Nepal. Looking at the statistics of a decade, by 2072 BS, there were less than two thousand disasters. After 2073 BS, the number of disasters has risen from 2,000 respectively in the country. In the last few years (2075-2077 BS), more than 4,000 natural disasters have occurred and registered.

Not only has the numbers of human losses due to floods have decreased, the damage caused by landslides has also become another risk factor. As most of the incidents occur during monsoon season, the data shows that the seasonal risks in Nepal is more challenging.

Disaster management expert Krishna Devkota says that landslides have become more challenging in recent years. According to him, the death toll due to floods has decreased in the last decade but the damage caused by landslides has increased. "Mainly because the early warning system seems to be relatively effective and public awareness has increased. So the numbers of life lost in floods and ladslides have decreased, but the damages caused by it have seen a massive increase over some years," Devkota added.

In the last two years, numbers of landslides have been reported in Sindhupalchowk, Baglung, Manang, Kaski, Tanahu, Lamjung and Parbat.

In the last one decade (2068-2077 BS), there were 24 thousand 586 disasters. Out of 4,056 deaths, half were caused by floods and landslides. The highest number of landslides reported was 1,205, followed by lightning at 999, floods at 794 and fires at 710.

Of the 119,000 families affected, 52,830 houses were partially damaged and 6,456 houses were completely damaged. According to NEA, a total loss of Rs. 38.95 billion has been incurred from this. Although fires and lightning are inadvertently causing human losses, incident mitigation is not a priority. However, since then, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has shown interest in controlling fire incidents.

Attempts were made to control the fire by helicopter this time. This is the first exercise in Nepal, says NEA Chief Executive Officer Anil Pokharel. As the incidence of disasters have increased, the government has launched a 10-year campaign on disaster risk reduction and management with the objective of making Nepal a disaster-prone nation within the next 10 years.

The government has also intensified the temporary housing reconstruction program for the rehabilitation of those affected by the disaster since last year. Nepal is at high risk of monsoon disasters due to its low to high terrain and sloping terrain. According to the Nepal Disaster Report 2019 of the Ministry of Home Affairs, about one thousand lives are lost annually due to monsoon-related disasters. Nepal ranks among the highest risk countries in South Asia in terms of deaths due to water disasters. Nepal is ranked 11th and 30th in the world among the countries most affected by earthquakes and floods.