The hardship faced by citizens during disasters is not only related to the loss of human wealth. At such times, citizens also fall into fraud. Artificial scarcity of goods and arbitrary prices are maintained. At present, the prices of daily consumables including green vegetables are very high in the market.
What you should know
Residents of most parts of the country have been affected due to light to heavy rains that started on Friday afternoon. According to the details till Sunday evening, 47 people have died. Houses and crops are inundated, houses are swept away by landslides, highways are obstructed by landslides, bridges are washed away or damaged by floods, from the plains to the mountains.
The number of those who have gone to different places to celebrate Dasain is comparatively more because it is time to return to their original place. The weather has not fully recovered and the potential for danger remains. Therefore, individual, community and government initiatives are necessary to adopt all safety measures.
The consequences that can be created by the upheavals in the weather are not under anyone's control. A long-term strategy and prudent decisions can be used to minimize potential losses. At the same time, the guardianship shown by the government towards citizens in difficult times also has a special meaning.
Prime Minister Sushila Karki issued a video message to the nation on Saturday after it started raining incessantly, stating that the government is ready to provide immediate rescue in case of trouble and urged them not to hesitate to get the necessary assistance. She made it clear that all the resources of the state are with the citizens.
Similarly, Nepal Police, Armed Police, Nepal Army, administration, health workers, other service agencies were mobilized to provide immediate assistance as much as possible. As the flow in the river in Kathmandu increased, the police provided miking and assistance to move people and essential materials from the coastal settlements.
Efforts were also made for safe relocation in many places outside Kathmandu Valley. Travel on the riverside road was prohibited. The victims of the landslide were rescued. The government had given public holidays on Sunday and Monday.
Similarly, from Saturday to Monday, long-distance vehicles running from all districts of Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces and entering/exiting Kathmandu Valley were stopped. Although there has been a loss of human wealth, the government's efforts have been appreciated. The preparatory work done by the government this time can be taken as a lesson for the coming days as well.
Many remembered the government's actions during similar rains, floods and landslides a year ago. Even then, he understood that there was no salvation at all, but only rituals. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was in America amid the disaster. He did not feel the need to return immediately. Even after returning from
, he expressed from Tribhuvan Airport that 'floods cannot be stopped, landslides are not predicted, it is a matter of rescue, distribution of relief, the government is doing it'.
Those who were sitting on the roof of the terrace and waiting for rescue were swept away during the flood in the Nakkhu river. On their failure to rescue them in time, Home Minister Ramesh Lakhtar said that the 'visibility' was not enough to reach the helicopter. At the same time, the fact that the visibility of Kathmandu was more than 2000 meters was confirmed by the bulletin issued by the Department of Water and Meteorology. 1000 meters visibility is sufficient for special rescue helicopter flights. That is why the then Home Minister writer was heavily criticized.
At that time, even though the Department of Water and Meteorology showed the possibility of heavy rain, many people lost their lives on the highway because the government could not make adequate preparations and adopt the necessary strategy. For example, when the traffic on the highway was not controlled, many vehicles fell into landslides.
At a distance of only 2.7 km from Nagadhunga check post, 35 people were killed when several vehicles were swept away by a landslide in Jhaple river. The passengers inside the car were also buried in the hope of being safe amid the heavy rain.
At that time, even if vehicular traffic was stopped, it was analyzed that the damage could be reduced. This time the government has learned from the weakness of the previous year. Citizens are also ready to help the stranded passengers in a safe place, accommodation and food.
Although the weather is improving, the risk of landslides remains. Landslides cause damage to individual houses, settlements, roads. Therefore, residents of hilly areas need to be alert for a few more days. The government can remove the landslides on the roads in a few days and the traffic can be opened as normal. Vehicles have started plying on some road sections since Sunday. But the risk should not be considered over. Passengers need to get advance information about the road conditions before leaving for the trip.
The hardships citizens face during disasters are not only related to loss of wealth. At such times, citizens also fall into fraud. Artificial scarcity of goods and arbitrary prices are maintained. At present, the prices of daily consumption items including green vegetables are very high in the market.
It is natural to see a normal fluctuation in prices when there is a disruption in the import system in a market dependent on foreign products, but abnormal prices depict fraud on innocent citizens. It cannot be justified to maintain the price of the goods that have already been supplied, especially without incurring additional costs. Similarly, after the Dasain holiday, the traffic will be stopped for three days and the passenger traffic will definitely increase for the next few days.
At such times random fares are charged. The tendency of fares to be arbitrary around Dasain has been established since the past. Government information and monitoring have not been effective. As there is a possibility that arbitrary rent collection will increase in the next few days, it is necessary for the government to conduct a program that will give rewards. The disaster is not over, let's be aware, let's reduce the damage, let's help.
