Nepal Issues Red Alert for Heavy Rainfall in 56 Districts
Nepal’s Weather Forecasting Division has issued a red alert for four continuous days, indicating that 56 out of 77 districts are at high risk for heavy rainfall. The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA) has suspended night vehicle operations for two days and advised farmers to delay harvesting and store crops in high-lying areas.
The alert is due to monsoon winds affecting the entire country, influenced by water vapour from the Bay of Bengal and a low-pressure system. People living in landslide-prone areas and near rivers are urged to be cautious. All security agencies and volunteers are to remain alert for search and rescue operations if needed.
The weather forecast predicts overcast skies, light to moderate rain, and occasional thunderstorms from Thursday afternoon through Sunday. Heavy rainfall is expected in isolated locations within Gandaki and Lumbini provinces, as well as in parts of Koshi, Bagmati, Madhesh, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces.
The high-risk districts include Jhapa, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Tehrathum, Khotang, Okhaldhunga, Udaypur, Bhojpur, Ilam, Panchthar, and Morang in Koshi Province. In Madhes Province, Sirha, Saptari, and Parsa are at high risk. In Bagmati Province, Makwanpur, Chitwan, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk, Sindhuli, and Ramechhap are on the list. In Gandaki Province, Myagdi, Baglung, Tanahun, Syangja, Nawalparasi East, Kaski, Parbat, Lamjung, Gorkha, and Manang districts are at risk. In Sudurpaschim Province, Jajarkot, Rukum Paschim, Dailekh, Surkhet, Salyan, Doti, Kailali, and Acham are at risk.
The public and relevant agencies are advised to remain vigilant as rising water levels in rivers and streams could disrupt daily life, agriculture, health services, tourism, construction, and transportation.
Doubts Revealed
Red Alert -: A red alert is a warning that something very dangerous, like heavy rain or a storm, is going to happen soon. It means people need to be very careful and take action to stay safe.
Districts -: A district is a part of a country that is divided for administrative purposes. It’s like how a state in India is divided into smaller areas called districts.
Weather Forecasting Division -: This is a part of the government that predicts the weather. They tell people if it’s going to rain, be sunny, or if there will be a storm.
National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA) -: This is a group in Nepal that helps people stay safe from natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, and landslides. They make plans and give advice to protect people.
Monsoon -: Monsoon is a season when it rains a lot. In India and Nepal, the monsoon season usually happens from June to September.
Low-pressure system -: A low-pressure system is a weather condition that often brings rain and storms. It happens when the air pressure in an area is lower than the surrounding areas.
Gandaki, Lumbini, and Koshi -: These are names of provinces in Nepal. A province is like a big area or state in a country.
Landslide-prone areas -: These are places where landslides are likely to happen. A landslide is when rocks and soil slide down a hill or mountain, which can be very dangerous.
Harvesting -: Harvesting is when farmers collect the crops they have grown, like rice or wheat, from their fields.
