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Govt intensifies rescue efforts in flood-hit districts; NC, CPN-M to mobilise cadres

Although the government has said it has intensified relief and rescue operations in flood-hit areas it still hasn’t been quite effective.

As incessant rain continues to aggravate the situation in flood-hit areas of Terai region, government’s rescue works have been seriously affected, leaving the flood victims in serious want of food, safe drinking water, clothes and accommodations.

According to Baman Prasad Nepane, spokesperson at the Home Ministry, the government has intensified the distribution of relief materials in flood and landslides affected areas, but he admitted that bad weather conditions have caused some difficulty in carrying out rescue operations in some districts.

As eastern and central Terai region has witnessed heavy rainfall today morning also rescue teams are facing all sorts of difficulties on the ground.

According to the Department of Meteorology, the downpour will continue as there are still many days left for the monsoon season to end.

In the face of difficulties, the government has deployed the army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police to carry out rescue operations in flood and landslide affected districts.

More than three dozen people have died in floods, while thousands of families have been displaced in Terai districts. At least 10 deaths were reported on Sunday.

Floods have badly affected life in districts like Jhapa, Morang, Siraha, Sarlahi, Udaypur, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Mahottari, Dhanusha and Saptari while western districts like Banke, Bardiya and Kailali have also witnessed death and destruction.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress (NC) has constituted Relief and Rescue Committee headed by party general secretary K.B Gurung Sunday in order to intensify rescue efforts in flood-hit areas.

A meeting of NC Central Working Committee (CWC) held at Prime Minister’s residence today morning formed the committee. The committee also decided to collect donations, keep record of the loss of lives and property in floods and landslides and will also mobilise its local activists for providing immediate relief to the victims.

The meeting has also asked the government to intensify rescue efforts in the affected districts.

Meanwhile, the CPN (Maoist) has also directed the party’s youth wing, Young Communist League, to involve in rescue and relief operations in flood-hit areas.

Similarly, the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) has decided to work with the government to mitigate the outbreak of disease in the flood-hit districts.

The association has called on all doctors and health-workers associated with it to be ready to take on the challenge of providing immediate health service in the affected areas. nepalnews.com ag July 29 07