Kanchanpur local levels step up disaster preparedness ahead of monsoon risks

Kanchanpur: Local levels in Kanchanpur are engaged in disaster preparedness, with all nine local governments in the district stating that they have begun preparations for areas identified as highly vulnerable to monsoon-related disasters.

After search and rescue equipment was destroyed during the Genji movement, the procurement of necessary materials has been advanced with support from various organizations, said Omnath Dhakal, disaster contact person of Punarbas Municipality.

In Punarbas Municipality, more than 200 households in Bikash Basti in Ward No. 10, Rato Tal, Simari in Ward No. 5, and Dasharath Basti in Ward No. 2 are considered at high risk of monsoon-related disasters.

Disaster contact person Dhakal said that construction of safe housing for disaster victims in Ward No. 5 has been carried out this year to relocate them to safer areas. He added that community disaster management committees have been trained and alerted for rescue operations and preparedness. According to him, sirens have been installed at two locations, coordination has been established with security agencies, and relief materials have been managed for emergency response. Health services have also been arranged through the health department to prevent possible outbreaks of epidemics following disasters.

Belauri Municipality has stated that it is holding discussions with wards to reduce monsoon disaster risks and is providing training to Community Disaster Management Committees deployed for search and rescue operations.

Krishnapur Municipality has said that preparatory work has been advanced to reduce monsoon-related risks in all nine wards affected by flooding from Khahare Khola and other rivers. It also reported that embankment and drain cleaning works have been carried out in flood-affected areas.

Similarly, Bedkot Municipality said it is working on revising its disaster preparedness and response plan. Disaster contact person Sunil Chand stated that preparatory work has been initiated in collaboration with various organizations to reduce disaster risks, and five days of training have been provided to municipal police for search and rescue operations.

More than 400 households in Sarkiparki Tole of Ward No. 4, Chatahari area of Ward No. 10, and Baijnath Tole of Ward No. 9 in Bedkot Municipality are at high risk of flooding.

Beldandi Rural Municipality has also formed 10 community-level disaster management committees across five wards to reduce monsoon disaster risks. Disaster contact person Purushottam Joshi said the committees have been trained and activated for information dissemination, search and rescue operations. He added that after last year’s river dam collapse caused extensive damage, repair work carried out this year is expected to reduce risks.

Similarly, Laljhandi Rural Municipality has provided training to 14 community disaster management committees for monsoon disaster response. Wards 2, 3 and 4 of Laljhandi are identified as high-risk flood areas.

Bhimdatta, Shuklaphanta and Dodhara Chandani municipalities have also conducted preparedness drills, provided training to community disaster management committees, and are managing necessary materials for disaster response.

In Bhimdatta alone, more than a thousand families living along the Mahakali River coastal area are at high risk of flooding. Amrit BK, disaster contact person of Dodhara Chandani Municipality, said that preparations have also been initiated for disaster risk reduction.