Sep 24, Kathmandu - Following the Nepal Meteorological Department's forecast of four days of heavy rainfall starting Thursday, authorities have begun preemptive safety measures in potentially affected areas. The provinces of Gandaki and Lumbini, where significant rainfall is expected, have been placed on high alert.

Security personnel have started public awareness campaigns along riverbanks. According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abu Narayan Kafle, police have begun loudspeaker announcements in the banks of rivers such as Roshi, Sun Koshi, Trishuli, and Indrawati in Bagmati Province, and Balan and Bihul rivers in Madhesh Province, as well as in the riverfront areas of Kathmandu Valley.

The security agencies have identified 649 locations nationwide as high-risk zones due to the forecasted rainfall. In the most vulnerable regions of Lumbini and Gandaki, the Nepal Police Headquarters has dispatched additional support. Trained personnel from the Disaster Response and Training Centre of Nepal Police have been deployed to assist in these provinces, DIG Kafle reported.

He stated, “We have increased the deployment of disaster-trained security personnel in the two provinces most at risk.”

The Nepal Armed Police Force has mobilized 11,763 personnel to high-risk areas. Spokesperson DIG Netra Bahadur Karki explained that these forces are operating according to district disaster management plans. The police have also prepared 82 rafts and 53 motorboats for swift rescue operations. Trained rescue teams, including divers and medical personnel, are already active in vulnerable zones, and police are providing early warnings to riverbank communities about potential hazards.

In addition, aerial drone teams have been deployed to conduct search and rescue operations in identified risk zones. A total of 74 locations in Madhesh Province, including Kamala, Charnath, Balan River, and Bihul River banks, have been marked as high-risk. Similarly, 52 sites in Kathmandu Valley have been identified as vulnerable.

The weather is expected to remain active until the 11th of the month. As long as the conditions persist, security forces will continue operating in risky areas, DIG Karki assured.  

DIG Kafle emphasized that the Nepal Police has prepared comprehensive disaster response plans in collaboration with district disaster management committees, ensuring readiness for any emergencies amid the forecasted heavy rainfall.