KATHMANDU: The District Administration Office (DAO) in Jhapa has urged residents to remain on high alert after the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across parts of the country, including the eastern Tarai, on June 30 and July 1.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, the administration warned of possible floods and inundation, urging people living near rivers and in low-lying areas to exercise caution.
The DAO advised the public to avoid travelling through rivers, streams, and flood-prone crossings, citing the likelihood of flash floods triggered by intense rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Areas surrounding the Kankai, Biring, Ratuwa, Mechi, Mawa, and Ninda rivers are considered particularly vulnerable to flooding.
Among Jhapa’s 15 local governments, the southern municipalities and rural municipalities of Gaurigunj, Kachankawal, Barhadashi, Jhapa, Kamal, Shivasatakshi, and Bhadrapur are at the highest risk of flooding and waterlogging.
Authorities said disaster response agencies, including the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Red Cross Society, and local governments, have been placed on standby with rescue personnel and relief supplies.
Chief District Officer Shibram Gelal said the District Disaster Management Committee has already activated an integrated disaster response plan.
“Flooding remains the district’s top disaster risk, and we have taken all necessary measures to minimise potential loss of life and property,” Gelal said, adding that coordination with security agencies, the Red Cross, and local governments is ongoing.
According to the Nepal Red Cross Society’s Jhapa chapter, more than 8,000 households in the district are at very high risk of flooding. Chapter Chair Lok Raj Dhakal said greater emphasis has been placed this year on early warning systems and local-level preparedness.
Relief supplies, including food, have been pre-positioned at seven locations across the district, while more than 120 volunteers and first-aid response teams remain on standby with search and rescue equipment.
Meanwhile, a special disaster management training programme jointly organised by the Koshi Province Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Armed Police Force concluded in Jhapa. The training, which began on June 23, equipped 20 municipal police personnel from Bhadrapur, Birtamod, Arjundhara, Mechinagar, and Kankai municipalities with disaster response and rescue skills.
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