Kathmandu. As many as 140 people lost their lives in the disasters caused by rainfall during the monsoon of 2082 BS that lasted for around 135 days.
According to the report released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 1,454 incidents of disasters were registered during the monsoon period and 30 people are still missing. Another 300 people were injured.
According to the NRA report, the highest number of 67 people have died in landslides. As many as 37 people died in floods and 29 in lightning. A total of 5,995 families were affected by natural disasters including floods, landslides and lightning during the monsoon period from May 29 to October 10.
Meanwhile, another 120 people died in other disasters such as fires and snakebites during the period. Another 622 people were injured, the NRA said in the report.
At least 52 people lost their lives in natural disasters in Nepal last September when monsoon clouds remained active for three consecutive days. The highest number of deaths were from Ilam district.
Landslides and floods have also caused extensive damage to roads, bridges, hydropower projects, schools, community buildings, power lines and infrastructure.
According to the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN), a representative body of private sector power developers, 18 hydropower projects have been directly affected by the floods and landslides. Of these, 13 are ongoing and five are under construction.
The country, rich in hydropower potential, has also faced risks to this critical infrastructure in recent years due to catastrophes related to climate change.
According to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the recent incessant rains have caused erosion, flooding and inundation of riverbanks in various areas, resulting in erosion of about 1,500 meters of embankments along the river banks and an estimated initial loss of about Rs 10 crore.
