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In the last financial year 2023/2024, there were 155 natural disasters of four different types in Parbat. According to the District Administration Office, five people died and the damage was worth more than Rs 60,00,000. According to the Chief District Officer and Coordinator of the District Disaster Management Committee, Kedarnath Sharma, 99 cases of floods, 41 cases of fire, five cases of electrocution, and 10 cases of lightning have been recorded in one year. Chief District Officer Sharma reported that among these disasters, four individuals lost their lives due to landslides and one due to a fire. Additionally, twelve people were injured, including two from fires, three from electrocution, and seven from lightning strikes. One person affected by both floods and landslides remains unidentified and missing. The disasters also resulted in the death of ten cattle in floods and landslides, 18 in fires, and 30 from lightning strikes. The police have documented the physical damage, which totals Rs. 6,75,000. Likewise, the damages caused a loss of Rs. 6,30, 000 due to floods, Rs. 31,000 due to fires, and Rs. 14,000 due to lightning. A total of 70 houses, 11 sheds, and 18 other structures were damaged due to landslides; 12 houses, 11 sheds, and 18 other structures were damaged due to fires; two other structures were damaged due to electricity; and seven houses and three sheds were damaged due to lightning.

Sharma stated that he is doing his best to respond to disasters with the help of local security agencies and residents to reduce their occurrence in the district. Despite the increasing incidence of disasters each year, local governments have not been able to create a solid plan. Among the seven local levels in Parbat District, only Modi Rural Municipality has developed a disaster response plan and is actively providing disaster management and assistance. Ram Bahadur Chhetri, the chief administrative officer of Modi Rural Municipality, stated that they are managing every disaster incident by working based on and taking reference from the disaster response plan made in the municipality. However, according to Chitranath Acharya, the disaster focal person of Jaljala Rural Municipality, no disaster management plan has been created yet, and financial aid procedures are being used as a reference to support disaster victims.

Chief District Officer Kedarnath Sharma mentioned that some local levels are working based on the District Disaster Response Plan prepared by the District Disaster Management Committee. He also noted that, according to Section 11 of the Local Government Operation Act, 2074 of the Government of Nepal, there is a provision requiring all local levels to create disaster preparedness and response plans.

Santosh Thapa