Sudurpaschim Steps Up Disaster Preparedness as Heavy Rainfall Forecast, Army Helicopter on Standby

Mahendranagar: With heavy to very heavy rainfall forecast across various parts of the country starting this Friday, stakeholder mechanisms in Sudurpaschim Province have been placed on standby for disaster response as a precautionary measure.

Sanjay Kumar Shah, Acting Chief of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology office in Attariya, Kailali, stated that a high-alert notice has been issued for Bajhang, Bajura, Darchula, and Achham, as the districts are at high risk during the anticipated rainfall. “Since rainfall is expected in the Chure region, these districts have also been placed under high-risk alert,” he said.

Bartaraj Paudel, Chief District Officer (CDO) of Darchula, a hilly district in Sudurpaschim classified as high-risk, stated that information has been disseminated to the public to help them stay safe from potential disaster situations arising from the rainfall. He said, “We have kept excavators ready to immediately clear any road obstructions and have arranged food supplies sufficient for two months.” He added that preparations have been made to the best of their resource capacity.

Similarly, Bajhang CDO Mukesh Kumar Keshari stated that discussions regarding preparedness are underway in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs. He said, “Since Bajhang has been identified as a high-risk area, disaster response preparations are being carried out accordingly.”

In addition to the local administration, security agencies in Sudurpaschim have intensified disaster response preparations to minimize potential damage. Ramesh Kumar Pandey, Senior Superintendent of the Armed Police Force (APF) at the No. 7 Baidyanath Brigade in Attariya, confirmed that the APF has organized its disaster response readiness based on the forecast received from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

“No leave has been granted to Armed Police Force personnel during this period; in addition to the units already deployed in Sudurpaschim, 14 temporary disaster safety bases have been set up here and kept in a state of readiness. Coordination is underway between relevant agencies and security mechanisms,” he said.

Noting that a low-pressure system over the central Bay of Bengal is intensifying and is expected to impact Nepal, security committees are preparing response measures and urging necessary precautions against the risks of floods, landslides, and inundation caused by heavy rainfall.

The Nepal Army also announced that it has completed its disaster response preparations in Sudurpaschim Province. The Army stated that it has kept a helicopter on standby at the Sudurpaschim Division Headquarters for the rescue and relief of affected citizens.