News

Kathmandu, Oct 3 – With heavy rainfall forecast to coincide with the Dashain festival (October 4–6), the DPNet organized a virtual dialogue on October 3 to strengthen monsoon preparedness and response in collaboration with transport entrepreneurs.

The session brought together officials from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), the National Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs of Nepal, News Agency Nepal (NAN), and other disaster management actors. Dr. Raju Thapa, Member Secretary of NPDRR, facilitated the discussion. The dialogue was prompted by last year’s Jhyapaphle Khola incident and aimed to prevent similar disasters during this festival period

Mr. Binod Parajuli, Senior Divisional Hydrologist, DHM, reported that heavy rainfall is expected from October 4, especially in Bara, Parsa, and Rautahat, with possible extension to Kathmandu, Makwanpur, Sindhuli, and Dhading. He warned of heightened risks of inundation, floods, and landslides.

Highlighting the role of timely communication, Krishna Poudel, President, News Agencies of Nepal (NAN), stressed the need for location-specific forecasts to provide communities with reliable information. Mr. Parajuli responded that areas including Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Sindhuli, Bara, Parsa, and Rautahat are likely to face severe impacts, with detailed local forecasts to be issued 3–6 hours before heavy rainfall through radar systems. NAN, with its network of over 1,000 media outlets, is committed to disseminating early warnings swiftly to communities.

Transport entrepreneurs voiced key operational concerns.

• Mr. Pankaj Malla (Gongabu Bus Committee) requested clear guidance on bus movement restrictions, particularly at night, emphasizing the importance of timely updates for safe operations.
• Mr. Bhimjwala Rai, President, Independent Transport Workers’ Association of Nepal
  urged the government to issue clear guidelines on districts likely to be affected so that bus movement decisions can be made promptly.
• Mr. Bijay Bahadur Swar, President, National Federation of Transport Entrepreneurs of Nepal, noted that last year’s red alerts lacked clarity on cloudburst-prone zones. Clearer guidance, he said, would enable effective enforcement of bus restrictions, especially on routes to Madhesh Province. He also underscored the importance of raising community awareness about rainfall intensity to ensure compliance with restrictions.

Mr. Dhurba Khadka, Former speaker, NDRRMA, flagged challenges in enforcing restrictions amid ongoing GenZ-led protests, suggesting community-level awareness campaigns as a more effective tool to highlight risks. Mr. Kedar Ghimire, Former Secretary, Government of Nepal, acknowledged improved preparedness compared to last year but cautioned that roads along riverbanks remain vulnerable. In line with this, the District Administration Offices (DAO) of Chitwan, Dhading, and Tanahun districts issued a joint public notice warning of frequent blockages along the Muglin–Narayangadh and Muglin–Kathmandu highways due to heavy rainfall and landslides. The notice advised against unnecessary travel until September 20, restricting heavy vehicle movement and emphasizing public cooperation. It also provided police and administration contact points for road condition updates and complaints.

The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment: stronger coordination among disaster management authorities, transport operators, and communities is essential to reduce risks and ensure safe mobility during the forecasted critical time.