South Asian News Network

Kathmandu, June 18: Minister for Home Affairs Sudan Gurung has said that the goal during monsoon-related disasters is zero human casualties. Addressing a special meeting held at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the Home Minister insisted that since the ministry supports zero human casualties in disaster management and preparedness, programmes should be carried out accordingly. Identifying areas affected by floods, landslides and natural disasters and giving instructions to advance policies and programmes accordingly, he said, “It is necessary to work in a way that reduces loss of life and property by collaborating and coordinating among agencies involved in relief and rescue with an integrated approach. We should no longer hear news of anyone losing their life unnecessarily due to disasters.” In the meeting, Home Minister Gurung urged for moving beyond traditional working methods and said, “We always tend to get involved in rescue and relief only after a disaster has occurred, which has led to relatively disappointing results. Now it’s necessary for all involved parties to focus on being alert and prepared before a disaster strikes.” Commenting on the extreme misuse of helicopters in the past under the pretext of inspecting flood and landslide affected areas, Home Minister Gurung clarified that no one is now allowed to misuse state property by taking helicopter trips with irrelevant or unauthorised officials. He made it clear that he is not in favour of misusing state property by taking a helicopter (for inspection of flood or disaster-affected areas) and said that strict measures will be strictly enforced so that no one other than security personnel involved in relief and rescue can take a helicopter for that purpose. The meeting was attended by the heads of all three security agencies as well as senior officials and staff working in disaster risk reduction. —