Heavy rain and flood risk: Home ministry issues 8 point directive

Kathmandu – With the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology issuing a warning for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across the country from October 4 to 6, the Ministry of Home Affairs has released an eight-point directive for disaster management.

On Saturday afternoon, Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal held a virtual meeting with Chief District Officers and issued strict instructions for assessing and managing potential risks.

The continuous rainfall over the next 24 hours is anticipated to increase the risk of flooding and inundation, similar to last year. The water levels in the Bagmati River and its tributaries have risen sharply.

At the Khokna water measurement center in Lalitpur, the Bagmati River’s water level has crossed the alert level of 3.5 meters, reaching 3.58 meters. Meanwhile, at the Balkumari center on the Manohara River, water levels have surpassed the alert level of 4.4 meters, with similar rapid increases noted in the Nakhu River.

High risks of flooding have been highlighted for areas around the Hanumante, Bishnumati, and Nakhu rivers, particularly in the Medistiti vicinity, as well as in the Kalimati and Balkhu vegetable market regions.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has decided to halt long-distance and incoming/outgoing vehicle movements in the Kathmandu Valley entirely on October 4, 5, and 6.

Instructions have been issued to all Chief District Officers for monitoring and supervising this decision. Vehicles stranded on highways are to be assisted to reach their destinations based on weather and road conditions, coordinating with local authorities and organizations to ensure food arrangements for passengers.

Priority is to be given to safely transporting ambulances, with specific instructions for relocating stranded pregnant women to nearby birthing centers.

The ministry emphasized coordinating with local municipalities to relocate residents in flood and landslide-prone areas to nearby schools or open spaces.

For passengers affected by flight cancellations due to weather conditions, arrangements are to be made with transport operators to provide alternative means of travel.

In cases requiring immediate helicopter rescue, contact with the ministry’s Peace, Security, and Crime Control Division is advised. Chief District Officers and heads of security agencies in high-risk districts are to remain available at all times, and provide progress reports on disaster management to the Disaster and Conflict Management Division.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has urged all parties to exercise high vigilance and actively engage in disaster mitigation efforts.