KATHMANDU: Home Minister Sudan Gurung and Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha have sought information on the upcoming weather system and its potential impact on Nepal.
The ministers visited the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology’s Meteorological Forecasting Division in Babarmahal, Kathmandu, on Tuesday to receive a briefing on the possible effects of a low-pressure system developing over the Bay of Bengal.
During the meeting, meteorologists informed the ministers that heavy to very heavy rainfall is possible in various parts of the country from Friday through Monday, with potential impacts in several areas.
Following the discussion, Home Minister Gurung said the government sought information on the upcoming weather system to draw lessons from past disasters and prepare plans to minimize potential risks.
He said authorities have been urged to exercise particular caution as heavy rainfall is possible from Ashoj 8 to 12, deploy teams along riverbanks and other vulnerable areas, and keep local residents on high alert.
Energy Minister Shrestha said preparations and early-warning coordination were underway for disaster management.
He said the weather system originating from the Bay of Bengal could affect agriculture, tourism and travelers.
As the period coincides with the festive season, Shrestha urged people to check weather and road conditions before traveling and to take weather and disaster alerts issued through Ashoj 12 seriously and follow them strictly.
Shrestha also said rescue personnel and security forces had been kept on standby in potentially vulnerable areas based on lessons learned from previous disasters.
Referring to major damage suffered by hydropower projects during the previous disaster, he said arrangements had been made for the Water and Weather Forecasting Division to continuously share information with private-sector hydropower operators and the Nepal Electricity Authority.
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