Cost of non-compliance: Billions worth infrastructure damaged, death toll rises to 169

Lack of serious disaster preparedness, non-compliance, and timely rescue has cost the country billions.  

Flood and landslide caused by incessant rainfall that started on Thursday afternoon has damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges, hydropower projects, power lines and buildings, worth billions, whereas some 169 people also lost their lives.

The death toll from disaster-related incidents across the country has reached 169, according to the Home Ministry.  In addition to the loss of lives, the infrastructure damage is also extensive due to inaction of the government.

According the World Bank, the government's disaster-related expenditures between 2012 and 2020 amounted to over $3.8 billion (Rs 451.45 billion), or an annual average of about $430 million (Rs 50 billion). However, this year's disaster-related expenditures might be double the annual average to around $800 million. 

According to Armed Police Force (APF) under Home Ministry, some 60 others are injured, while 54 are missing. "Floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain since Thursday afternoon damaged 322 houses and 16 bridges across the country," the APF reported.

The three districts in the Valley — Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur — recorded some 79 deaths, with 52 in Kathmandu alone. The Southern part of Lalitpur district is still cut-off with the rest of the district due to landslide and electricity outage, due to heavy downpour. 

Likewise, Kathmandu Valley is cut-off with the rest of the country due to landslide and flood-caused bridge and road damage. The vehicles are seen on the highways that lead to the Kathmandu Valley.

The eastern entry point to the Kathmandu Valley, Banepa, is obstructed due to road damage on BP Highway, whereas the western entry point to the Kathmandu Valley, Thankot, is obstructed due to landslide and road damage in Naubise. The security forces are, however, working hard to clear the roads following to western entry point, Thankot, for emergency rescue operations also.

Likewise, some 66 deaths were reported in Bagmati Province, excluding the Kathmandu Valley.

Koshi and Madhesh Provinces recorded some 21 and three deaths, respectively, the report stated, adding that no fatalities have been recorded in the other four provinces. But Butwal, in the Lumbini Province, was flooded that halted transportation.

India builds girls hostel building for APF

The girls Hostel Building for Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) School at Kirtipur in Kathmandu has been inaugurated today by deputy chief of mission at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu Dr Ajay Kumar, mayor of Kirtipur Minicipality Ramesh Maharjan, deputy mayor of Kirtipur Municipality Saraswoti Khadka, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of APF Ramsharan Paudel alongwith the political, community leaders.
APF School is an academic institution created under APF Welfare Service Centre of Nepal Armed Police Force. The school was established in 2005. It is located at Champadevi-7 of Kirtipur Municipality in Kathmandu. The school has over 21 per cent of girls students. The project was implemented by APF.
The new infrastructure constructed with the Indian grant assistance of Rs 40.42 million, is a two storied girls hostel building comprising 32 rooms, including dormitory and one room for warden, bathroom, sanitation facilities for girls on each floor and furniture, according to a press note issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.
Indian government is happy to be associated with the project which compliments effort of Nepal government in augmenting infrastructure in the field of education, the press note reads, adding that the newly built infrastructure is expected to boost learning environment of students.

Billions lost, dozens killed by rainstorm in Southern Nepal

At least 27 people were killed and more than 400 were injured in a severe wind and rainstorm that swept through two districts in southern Nepal yesterday evening.
Confirming the heavy rainstorm and windstorm in Bara and Parsa, chief district officer of Bara Rajesh Poudel said that the police and rescue personnel have been dispatched to the affected villages in Bara and Parsa. "But they could not reach the village due to heavy rain during the night," he said, adding that the office is coordinating with the local representatives to speed up the rescue operations. "Hospitals in both the districts have seen influx of the injured."
The local and provincial governments have been trying to reach the victims of the suspected tornado that has been witnessed in Nepal. "The trees have been uprooted due to heavy wind," the locals said, adding that they have not seen such devastating in their life. "The rainstorms hit just ahead of dinner time yesterday evening."
Most of the homes made from mud have collapsed as the electricity poles and trees fell on them, according to a local lawmaker, who visited the affected area. "I have not seen such devastation as the storm swept homes in the villages."
Though, the rescue teams from Nepal Police, Nepal Army and the Armed Police Force have been deployed overnight, the rough weather has been holding back the night vision helicopters to fly to the affected areas.
The provincial and federal government officials and ministers are preparing to fly to Province 2 to take stock of the rainstorm affected areas.
Likewise, losses to the agricultural, industrial and energy sectors are also expected to billions. Though, there has been no casualty reported from the industrial corridor of Bara and Parsa, industrial infrastructure has been destroyed. According to industrialists, the industrial corridors have seen huge loss of infrastructure as well as products.
According to vice-president of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Anil Kumar Agrawal, most of the factories in the industrial area were damaged. "The windstorm blew away roofs of some industrial buildings damaging the products that were stored in buildings due to rain that followed the storm," he said, adding that almost all the industrial buildings have collapsed while roofs of a few remaining buildings were ripped away. "All the raw materials, machinery and other equipment have also been destroyed by the storm."
"Trishakti Cement, Kalash Cement and Bishwakarma Cement have witnessed major loss due to the storm."
The affected areas donot have power supply as all the electricity poles have been knocked down. "“The industrial area may have witnessed losses worth billions,” he said, adding that the actual loss can be calculated only after a few weeks when the situation normalise. "But the business fraternity has started distribution of relief materials despite their losses."
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) estimated its losses to be around Rs150 million due to the damage to the electricity distribution system in Bara and Parsa districts. Around 2,000 electricity poles were knocked down by the powerful rainstorm.
The storm also damaged the 132 kV Parwanipur-Raxaul cross-border transmission line. Nepal has been importing 50 MW of electricity from India through the transmission line. The rainstorm also wrecked another 33 kV Birgunj-Raxaul cross-border transmission line that is being used to import 12 MW from the southern neighbour.
The storm damaged the 66 kV Parwanipur-Birgunj double-circuit line and the 33 kV Birgunj-Kalaiya line leading to a disruption in electricity supply in Birgunj city. According to the NEA, electricity supply from Kalaiya sub-station has been restored after maintenance.

Langtang International Marathon on May 19

Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) is organising the third International Langtang Marathon on May 19.
TAAN has been organising the 42.195-km race from 2016 to boost tourism in the region that was left devastated after the earthquake of April 25, 2015. "The Langtang region holds a lot of tourism potentials but due to the earthquake and lack of promotion, we have not been able to take more tourists there,” said TAAN president Navaraj Dahal.
"The foreign runners will take part in Langtang marathon," he said, adding that it will help promote tourism in the region. "We are expecting at least 100 runners but not sure yet."
The race will begin from an altitude of 3,870 metres in Kyanjing Gompa at the Langtang National Park and end at Syaphrubeshi passing through Ghoda Tabela, Lama Hotel, Rimche, Sherpagaun, Kangjim, Bridhim and Ling Ling.
The top three finishers will get cash prizes of Rs 105,000; Rs 78, 750 and Rs 52, 500. In the first two editions, runners from Tribhuvan Army Club and Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club dominated the race.