KATHMANDU: The government has formed a special task force to collect details of losses from the recent nationwide rain-induced disaster within the next 15 days.
This initiative aims to assess damages and ensure timely compensation for those affected.
The floods and landslides resulting from heavy rains on September 27-28 led to 192 fatalities, 30 missing persons, and 194 injuries, according to the latest updates from the Home Minister.
During a meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Executive Committee, chaired by Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, the task force was formed. It includes under-secretaries from the ministries of Home Affairs, Finance, Health and Population, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Agriculture and Livestock, Urban Development, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, and Communications and Information Technology, alongside experts from relevant fields.
The committee has directed relevant ministries to promptly begin reconstruction efforts for government and public buildings, transportation infrastructure, drinking water facilities, schools, and health institutions.
Additionally, the meeting recommended that the Council of Ministers endorse the Disaster Sensitive Social Security Guidelines, 2081 BS.
The committee will request a submission from the Law Ministry to facilitate this endorsement in accordance with Clause 39 of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act-2047 BS.
Plans are in place to identify potential beneficiaries and provide initial grants for constructing temporary shelters within a week, following the Temporary Shelter Guideline-2081 BS.
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management has been tasked with immediately restoring disrupted roadways to assist stranded passengers in reaching their destinations.
Relevant authorities will expedite the resumption of transport and drinking water services amidst the challenges posed by flooding and landslides.
Relief distribution to those affected by weather-related disasters will commence immediately through a one-door policy, ensuring that families of the deceased receive assistance in line with the ‘Disaster Rescue and Relief Standards, 2077’, as decided by the Council of Ministers on June 15.
The meeting acknowledged the efforts of volunteers involved in post-disaster search, rescue, relief, and debris removal.
To support restoration and reconstruction efforts, local levels have established the Disaster Management Volunteer Bureau, and national, provincial, district, and municipal volunteer bureaus have been instructed to mobilize volunteers actively.
The Provincial Disaster Management Executive Committee and the Local Disaster Management Committee in the affected provinces have requested assistance for search and rescue, relief, treatment, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and recovery activities as prescribed by the Act.
The Communication Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, 2081, will be amended and approved within a week after consulting committee members.
The process for amending the Emergency Warehouse Operation Procedure, 2081, will also move forward.
In light of potential epidemics following the disaster, the Ministry of Health and Population will implement public awareness programs and health camps in at-risk areas to mitigate disease spread.
The Disaster-affected Private Housing Retrofitting, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation Subsidy Procedure, 2081, will be amended and presented to the Council of Ministers for necessary decisions.
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