Vulnerable people

The Himalayan Times

26 December 2019

Vulnerable people

The varied geographical structure of Nepal has naturally given it a unique land scape ranging from the Himalayan, mid-hill to the Tarai regions. Nepal is located in subtropical latitude constituting for its variations in climates. Throughout the year, the climates of different regions vary according to the altitude and seasons. The Himalayan region mostly covered with snow is not inhabited. The mid-hill region, which has a pleasant climate, is densely populated by different ethnic communities whereas the Tarai is a low land region heavily populated by Madhesi and indigenous Tharu people.

 

Owning to this varied topographical structure, people have to face different types of seasonal natural calamities. During the monsoon, people lose lives due to landslides in the hilly regions and heavy floods in the Tarai areas. Likewise, during the winter, some of the unfortunate Tarai people lose their lives due to cold wave. This year, we have heard the first incident of four people losing their lives due to the cold wave in Rautahat in the last six days “Four succumb to cold wave in Rautahat (THT, December 24, Page 1). Many more people in the Tarai areas may lose their lives in this winter if timely precautions are not taken by the local authorities. 

Now, the local and provincial governments are in place, and they are supposed to take precautionary measures to protect their citizens from such untimely deaths. It may not be a huge problem for these governments to identify such vulnerable people whose lives could be saved by providing them warm clothes and blankets in time. It will be shame on these governments if more people from their districts should die of the cold waves in this winter.

Rai Biren Bandgel

Maharajgunj