Risk of floods and landslides increases with onset of monsoon

KATHMANDU:  The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has urged all to be vigilant, noting that the risk of floods and landslides is likely to increase this year with the arrival of the monsoon. The monsoon that arrived in Nepal from Province No. 1, Province No. 2 and Bagmati Province since Friday this year is currently active in Lumbini and Gandaki provinces and is spreading across the country.

The department estimates that with the onset of the monsoon, the flow of water in large and medium rivers will increase significantly and small rivers and tributaries will be inundated in the Terai and Chure areas. In a statement issued on Saturday, the department has urged the general public and all concerned bodies to take necessary precautions during the monsoon season.

It is estimated, Nepal will receive above-average rainfall during the monsoon this year in most parts of the Far West, Karnali, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces and in the central and western hilly and mountainous areas of Province No. 1.

Similarly, the department has already made public the estimates of average rainfall in the Terai of Lumbini, Gandaki and Bagmati and the western part of Province No. 2 and less than the average in the Terai of Province No. 1 and the eastern districts of Province No. 2.

The Weather Forecast Division of the department is continuously monitoring the weather conditions and the Flood Forecast Division is continuously disseminating information through daily bulletins. The department has also been disseminating weather and flood information and bulletins on a daily basis through websites and social media.

The department has informed all including the mass media to keep in touch on the telephone number 4113191 (weather) and toll-free number 1155 (flood) which will be operational 24 hours a day for more information on weather and floods. In addition, the department has been transmitting information through flood awareness SMS to the flood-prone areas.