Flood toll reaches 74

Flood toll reaches 74



Kantipur Report


KATHMANDU, July 30 - Floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall across the country have claimed at least 74 lives as of Sunday evening, according to government and our district reports.
The Home Ministry confirmed the death of at least 69 people and three more deaths on Sunday while our district correspondents reported two more deaths in Udayapur and Dhanusha.

Meanwhile, the government, in coordination with concerned ministries and humanitarian agencies, has geared up relief efforts for calamity-hit people.

The Central Disaster Relief Committee (CDRC) on Sunday decided to ask the Health Ministry to dispatch medical teams to help prevent possible outbreak of epidemics, besides asking the Ministry of Physical Planning and Ministry of Water Resources to ensure swift delivery of drinking water and electricity supply to affected districts.

Similarly, the government has decided to provide Rs 25,000 to each family of the deceased and delegate more authority to all district-level Disaster Relief Committees, according to Pratap Kumar Pathak, chief of Natural Disaster Relief Section at the Home Ministry.

Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry, Pathak informed that civil society committees would be formed at district level to identify and distribute relief materials. Among others, CDRC would also appeal to all humanitarian and donor agencies for aid to address food deficiency in

disaster-hit areas.

The government has so far released Rs 22.5 million to expedite relief activities, Pathak added. "Efforts are on to provide food, pure drinking water and temporary

shelters to the victims."

According to available data, floods and landslides have displaced at least 87,649 members of 15,879 families, destroyed at least 746

houses excluding 485 partially

damaged houses due to rainfall in different parts of the country. At least 206 livestock are reported to killed.

Dr Manas Banerjee, chief of the Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control at the Health Ministry, said that separate medical teams for diarrhea, snake bites and injuries have already been sent to the respective districts.

Nepal Medical Association and medical colleges have been asked to send medical teams to affected

areas. "We have made necessary arrangement to procure and distribute medicines needed for the victims," he said.

Dev Ratna Dhakwa, General Secretary of Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS), said NRCS has already dispatched 8,100 kg of beaten rice, 645 kg of sugar, 580 cartons of noodles from Kathmandu to the respective districts. "Local level Red Cross has provided much relief to affected communities," he added.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet meeting held today decided to release Rs 50 million as relief for flood and landslide victims. Likewise, all cabinet ministers have announced they will provide 7-days salary for the cause of victims.



Posted on: 2007-07-29 20:25:50 (Server Time)