Unanticipated Calamity

An unprecedented tragedy, triggered by the record monsoon rains and resultant floods and landslides, has shaken the country, killing at least 148 people and injuring the equal number of individuals across the country. Over 68 people are reported missing in the calamity. The number of the casualties, missing and wounded persons might climb as the search and rescue operations are still underway. With the quick mobilisation of security personnel, all government machineries and support of general public in the rescue of people trapped and stranded due to the floods and landslips, lives of many were saved. Around 3,039 people have been successfully rescued so far. The torrential rains that started from Thursday evening lashed almost every part of the country till Saturday morning. 

The unanticipated disaster hit the country at a time when it was preparing for the big festivals - Dashain and Tihar. The central and eastern parts of country were hardest hit, with Bagmati Province witnessing the highest number of deaths.  More than 34 people died in the Kathmandu Valley alone. These human casualties occurred despite the early warning of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and security agencies. In addition to the loss of staggering number of lives, the floods and landslides swept away many highways, roads, bridges, private houses, public buildings and lands. All the highways and major roads linking the capital city have been disrupted. The domestic air services have been suspended until the improvement of the weather.  Around 16 hydropower plants have been damaged - some of them submerged in the water while others were forced to stop the operation. It might take a few days for the authorities to assess the costs of damage incurred. 

Most of the happenings instantly came to public notice owing to the pervasive use of social media. The spectators captured the scenes of victims swept away by the swelling rivers, houses and bridges falling down, and the stranded individual pleading for life in their mobile sets and shared them quickly, creating more terrible and agonising sights for the viewers. The swift flow of information about the stuck persons also impelled the rescue teams to reach the sites without delay. However, the death of many people in Lalitpur, Kathmandu and adjoining cities where the resources and security forces are concentrated, was unexpected. Now focus should be on rehabilitating and supporting the displaced people, repairing roads, building the bridges and restoring the damaged public utilities. The government should give priority to resuming those highways that serve as the economic lifeline of millions of people. This is also crucial as thousands of people are set to visit their home districts to celebrate the Dashain festival. 

In this moment of catastrophe, all should join hands for the reconstruction of the damaged structures. The government should provide immediate relief help to those who have lost their relatives and houses in the natural calamities.  Against this backdrop, officiating Prime Minister Prakashman Singh organised an all-party meeting to discuss the situation and seek their cooperation in bringing life to normalcy. It is a matter of satisfaction that major and minor political parties have instructed their cadres to get involved in works of rescue and relief distribution to the victims in the disaster-affected districts. The government, political parties, civil society organisations and general public should demonstrate their unity as well as strength in helping the survivors and accelerating the construction of destroyed infrastructures.