Bhadrapur (Jhapa), June 30
The District Administration Office (DAO), Jhapa district, has urged the public to remain on high alert as heavy rainfall is imminent. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in various parts of the country, including the eastern part of the country, on June 30 and July 1 as monsoon.
The DAO, Jhapa, issued a public notice on Monday, warning of possible floods and inundation due to intensified monsoon activity accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. People living along riverbanks and in low-lying areas have been advised to stay alert and observe precautionary measures. The local administration has further cautioned the public not to travel through river channels and streams prone to flash floods.
The public is also advised to avoid crossing swollen rivulets and collect information in advance about safe locations to shelter in the time of disasters. Areas adjacent to major rivers in the district such as Kankai, Biring, Ratuwa, Mechi, Mawa and Ninda are considered vulnerable to flood and inundation, especially during monsoon. Among the 15 local levels within Jhapa, Gaurigunj rural municipality, Kachankawal rural municipality, Bahradashi rural municipality, Jhapa rural municipality, Kamal rural municipality, Shivasatakshi municipality and Bhadrapur municipality that are in the southern part of the district are regarded as high-risk areas for flood and inundation.
Lokraj Dhakal, President of the Nepal Red Cross Society, Jhapa, said that as per the Red Cross Society’s estimate, more than 8,000 households are at very high risk of flooding in the district. Dhakal shared that 120 volunteers from Red Cross Society, Jhapa, along with a first-aid provider team as well as search and rescue equipment, are in a ready position for disaster response. Chief District Officer (CDO) of Jhapa, Shivaram Gelal, informed that to minimise possible loss of lives and properties in the monsoon-induced disasters, the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Red Cross Society and local authorities have been placed on standby with relief supplies including food stocked in seven places across the district.
CDO Gelal stated that the District Disaster Management Committee has already prepared an integrated disaster response plan and prioritised flood preparedness. He added that authorities were coordinating efforts with security agencies, the Red Cross Society and local governments. Meanwhile, a special disaster response training programme has been recently organised by the Koshi Province’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Armed Police Force to train 20 municipal police personnel from five municipalities to strengthen community-level disaster management and rescue capacity, according to the DAO, Jhapa.
