Stay Alert Against Possible Disasters

There is a common assumption among Nepalis that poets explain the nature and natural phenomena beautifully and with great details. But, this is not true. When one reads the works of some Nepali poets, s/he will come to a conclusion the former spend their creative power to paint natural dispositions and beauty of surrounding areas instead of the challenges caused by the seasonal changes. For example, renowned poet Leknath Paudyal, who is also known as Kavi Siromani, has written long poem on the beauty and productive side of the summer season. He, however, he has not explained the danger of the natural calamities of the season in details. 

Now the summer season is taking the country under its grip. With the arrival of monsoon rains, a landslide has occurred in Okhaldhunga, causing damage to house there. During the day time at present, we are forced to bear the scorching heat. Because of the baking heat of the sun, plants drop their leaves in the day time, and animals breathe faster. Similarly, we, humans, feel tired and become quite inactive. Now, we are facing incessant rain with strong wind in some parts of the country while other areas are still witnessing a spell of drought. 

So, in night times, we must stay alert against possible floods and landslides as we had done in the previous years. The meteorologists have declared that the monsoon has recently begun. It means that the summer, the most unpredictable of seasons, has arrived. Therefore, the farmers must take extra caution to keep the irrigation system intact amidst the plantation of paddy. Travel lovers should make their itineraries keeping the monsoon and terrain in mind, and the local people living at distant hamlets should be ready to face devastating floods and landslides. 

It will be better to avoid hiking, picnic and other adventure tourism activities. It is the duty and responsibility of the people who are aware of the changes of the patterns of nature to notice the people vulnerable to floods and landslides. It is the matter of satisfaction that unlike in the Rana and Shah eras, today we have three-tier governments. All levels of governments are equally responsible and have allocated budget to cope with disasters. We have trained manpower in the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police to tackle emergencies and manage the affected population.

 We also have installed early warning system at some places. But the rain-induced devastations may cross all the limits.  For example, the nation’s topography is uneven and the road access to all parts of the country is not smooth and perennial. The communication system is also not reliable in some remote parts of the country. So, in case of disaster, the availability of relief materials is not certain.

It was not easy for the concerned authorities to distribute relief materials to the needy even in the past. It has been misused by politicisation and hoarding by cadres of powerful leaders. Therefore, taking precautions is the only solution by an individual family to tackle the Summer Season disasters of this year.