Recent Flooding in Kathmandu
Ms. Bhawana Upadhyay (Nepal)
Background
Nepal is a disaster-prone country mainly due to predominantly mountainous areas
full of steep, weak and fragile slopes.
Every year, a number of natural disasters occur in Nepal causing heavy loss of life,
property and infrastructure. The Government of Nepal has traditionally dealt withdisaster on a case-by-case basis, usually forming committees for disaster relief at
different levels. Past experience shows that disaster relief activities and a few
disaster-related plans were prepared at the central level without having comprehensive
information about the disaster on the ground. Therefore, in many cases, thepost-disaster relief and rehabilitation activities that were designed neither reflected
physical reality nor the needs expressed by the victims. On top of this, with scarcely
trained human and financial resources, implemented activities most of the timeremained inadequate and ineffective.
Many rural communities are isolated in Nepal due to inaccessibility. These isolated
communities have developed several indigenous mechanisms to manage and cope with
their impending disaster-related problems and odds.
Nepal, being located in a high disaster risk area, is prone to greater threats ofdisasters all year round. With a population of over 24 million and about 40% living
below the poverty line, natural disasters including floods are causing major problems in
the country. If we look at the magnitude of disasters in the last twenty years in Nepal,
each year on average 105 people die and properties worth millions of rupees aredestroyed.
A Case Study
Bagmati is the biggest river in the Kathmandu valley. The river originates from
Shivpuri hills 25 km north of Kathmandu city at an altitude of 2650 m above sea level.
Major tributaries such as Bishnumati, Dhobikhola, Manohara and Tukuche converge
with the Bagmati as it meanders through the valley. Apart from its religious, social,economic, environmental and aesthetic value, the river is also the source of water forthe valley’s population of over 2.3 million.

Rapid urbanization and increasing industrial activities have transformed this once
pristine river into an open sewer, unleashing epidemics and poisoning the farms
downstream. The degrading quality of the Bagmati river is becoming a matter ofnational concern.
The extensive use of this river water for various purposes in daily life is a potential
cause of seasonal outbreaks of water borne epidemics in the valley. In the upper
stretches of the river at the northern end of the valley, where the river is less affected byanthropogenic activities, one still sees the Bagmati as it used to be. Here, the river isused for bathing, washing vegetables, clothes and utensils, irrigation, etc. In most ofthese activities, it is the women who are predominantly involved.
Local women’s groups are already active in Kathmandu valley in the areas of urban
environmental management in general and solid waste management at the household
level, in particular. To increase and strengthen this involvement, analysis of the role
played by women’s groups is imperative.
July 1, 2006 was a devastating day for those who lived nearby the bank of Bagmati.
The flooding of the Bagmati river following torrential rain the previous night washedaway almost a dozen houses in the vicinity of the Bagmati. According to the ChiefDistrict Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu district, 227 persons—mostly women andchildren—from 57 families have been displaced. Victims complained that they had notime to retrieve their possessions from their houses as everything happened so swiftly.
The government immediately formed a seven-member committee to investigate andfind out the extent of the damage and to make a list of the victims. The ministry has
promised to provide US$54 as immediate compensation to each displaced family. Thishas been criticized by the victims who say, “This is a very meager amount and is hardly
enough for us to survive.”
Conclusion
Recently, several organizations including experts, researchers and policy-makers havebeen making efforts to study water induced problems in order to analyze Nepal’s flood
problems. This group of analysts may be able to sketch a clear roadmap about how
disaster can be linked to development to guide planners and the community. In this way,
limited resources will be maximally utilized to avoid and/or mitigate disasters.