Experts, stakeholders stress on potential disaster management preparedness

Kathmandu, Oct 3: Stakeholders have emphasized starting the necessary preparations for potential disaster management.

In a dialogue programme on disaster preparedness held today via 'virtual' platform, they highlighted that relevant stakeholders need to be ready to engage in pre-preparedness for potential disaster management.     

The dialogue focused on the role of non-governmental organizations in mitigating and managing disaster risks, as forecasts predict moderate to very heavy rains from Koshi to Lumbini Province until October 6. In the dialogue, Home Secretary Rameshwar Dangal shared information regarding the necessary discussions, instructions, and even vehicle traffic arrangements on some highways as part of the state's initiatives for potential disaster management.     

Secretary Dangal urged that, in the context of disasters, the non-governmental sector has a significant role in reducing potential loss of lives and property amidst political instability and uncertainty, and he requested them to identify their roles and contribute accordingly.     

Heads, officials, and experts from various national and international organizations, federations, and networks provided information about the preparedness, rescue, and relief capacities of their respective organizations, and suggested that brief and clear information should be communicated according to weather and river conditions.     

Dinesh Bhatt, Chairperson of the Disaster Dialogue and Executive Chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, informed that agreements have been made with helicopter, drone, and boat organizations as well as the private sector, keeping potential disasters in mind, and stated that their assistance would be available in the event of a disaster. Executive Chief Bhatt expressed a commitment to transmit updated forecast information to communities as quickly and understandably as possible, and urged the non-governmental sector to activate all networks for this purpose.     

In the discussion, Senior Flood Expert Binod Parajuli and Meteorologist Binu Maharjan from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology informed that there is a possibility of heavy rainfall in some areas of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces on October 4, and a possibility of very heavy rainfall in some areas of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces on October 5.(RSS)