Dixya Poudel

Monsoon season has arrived in Nepal, with it abundant rainfalls. Its starts from the onset of Ashar till the last days of Bhadra and is characterised by heavy rainfall throughout the nation. While farmers rejoice during this season, people likely to be affected by natural disasters are alarmed over its possible outcomes.
Ever since humans started to live in sedentary groups and tribes, rain has been considered an answer to droughts. Ancient people carried out rituals to please the gods so that rain would commence and end the extended droughts. Those civilisations that sustained life through cereal crops constantly feared that the rain would cease and halt crop cultivation. Hence, traditional rituals and prayers were performed in hopes of a rainy season.
Humanity has come far since the ancient civilisations but human life is still subject to the whims of nature. Thus there are natural disasters to which people have little influence. Each year, people all over the world are displaced by natural disasters such as floods, landslides, hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and so on. Thankfully Nepal is a landlocked nation and is thus safe from hurricanes and tsunamis but it is still susceptible to floods, earthquakes and landslides.
Especially during monsoon, the nation has to face the wrath of nature in form of floods and landslides. Thousands lose their lives while properties valued millions are destroyed. Citizens often decry over the government's lack of mitigating response to such disasters. One ray of hope this year is the proclamation of the government to exercise an effective response. As per the Natural Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the government is working to safeguard people from the impacts of landslides and floods. The organisation has studied the past data and trends to formulate a better response.
And this year, 1.8 million people are estimated to be affected by floods and landslides while over 500,000 of them could be acutely vulnerable. In collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, NDRRMA has formulated the “National Monsoon Early Preparedness and Response Work Plan 2021” to deal with possible outcomes of natural disasters. Further, embankments have been built through sand bags and gabion walls in disaster-prone areas. Likewise, one billion rupees has been allocated to address the natural disasters.
Various organisations including Red Cross are working to mobilise resources such as life jackets and tents in the district level. Ashar is the month of rice plantations during which farmers are occupied with managing and cultivating paddy fields. Likewise, people are joyous over the rain since it means a pleasant weather. However, heavy rain can also be a nuisance since people have to brace themselves with umbrellas and raincoats in order to brave the weather. It is a well-known fact that rainfalls sustain life but it can also take a frightening turn through floods and landslides.
However, human beings are largely culpable for the aggravated natural calamities. Since they are responsible for deforestation and urbanisation, humans should hold themselves accountable in some ways. Soil erosions resulting through such deforestations only worsen the situation. Nature thus must be protected since the future of the world depends on how well people conserve the natural resources. Further, through proper management of disaster response and relief, the effects of natural disasters can and must be mitigated.