Disasters in Nepal

Nepal uses the term विपद् (Bipad) for disasters and related emergencies. The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) framework covers risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery. The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act 2074 (2017) and Regulation 2076 establish responsibilities for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), national and provincial bodies, district committees and municipalities or rural municipalities. District Disaster Management Committees coordinate through the District Administration Office and Chief District Officer, while local Disaster Management Committees and local emergency operation centres handle local planning and response. Nepal faces earthquakes, landslides and debris flows, floods and flash floods, heavy rain, lightning, fires and forest fires, windstorms, hail, glacial lake outburst floods, avalanches, snowstorms, drought, cold waves and transport, industrial, air and water accidents. Epidemics and snakebite can appear in disaster planning, while medical treatment belongs primarily to health services. Himalayan, hill, Terai and urban areas have different exposure. Monsoon and pre-monsoon weather commonly increase flood, landslide, lightning and severe-rain risks. Deforestation, settlement on floodplains, environmental degradation, unplanned development and climate extremes can increase losses. The National Disaster Report recorded 32,375 events from 2018 to 2024; within its reporting definitions, 91.2% were climate-associated and fires accounted for 60.34% of recorded events. Fires, landslides, lightning, heavy rain and floods were prominent in frequency or damage. A 2024 flood and landslide assessment reported NPR 46,684,318,550 in losses, 249 deaths, 18 missing people and 177 injuries as of 9 October 2024. These figures describe recorded events and a specific assessment period, not a fixed annual level of risk. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) provides weather and flood forecasts. Its toll-free number 1155 offers weather information through option 1 and flood information through option 2. Nepal’s Flood Forecasting and Early Warning System (FFEWS) combines real-time rainfall and water-level data with hydrological and hydraulic models. Coverage includes the Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali river systems and has expanded to the Bagmati and West Rapti. Flash-flood forecasts remain locally limited where monitoring stations are sparse or warning time is short, so community-based and multi-channel warnings remain necessary. Warnings may appear through DHM, BIPAD, mass SMS, social media, local emergency operation centres, ward offices and community channels. BIPAD, the Disaster Risk Reduction portal, provides alerts, incident data, damage and loss information, risk maps and archives. The NDRRMA Daily Disaster Bulletin and local emergency operation centres provide additional updates. Check the source, location and validity time before forwarding a warning because preliminary reports can change. During an emergency, contact the relevant local emergency operation centre, District Administration Office, police or other security agency. The NDRRMA site lists NEOC at 1234, while official Ministry of Home Affairs pages have also listed 1149 for NEOC and 1112 for the Ministry. The Armed Police Force is listed at 1114, Nepal Police at 100 and DHM at 1155. The conflicting NEOC listings should be confirmed through an official channel at the time of an event. Local authorities, emergency operation centres and ward or community channels remain relevant where communication with Kathmandu is difficult. Local authorities issue evacuation directions according to the hazard and location. Follow the designated path, assembly point or shelter instruction and move to safer higher ground when flooding threatens. No complete nationwide public shelter register or single evacuation plan covers every place, so the applicable local disaster plan, emergency operation centre and ward instruction take precedence. Do not return during flooding, aftershocks or continuing slope instability until the responsible authority confirms that the area is safe. Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force support search and rescue, evacuation and relief under the coordination of the responsible authorities. Disaster assistance can include temporary shelter, food, drinking water, sanitation, health support, minimum assistance after death or property loss, protection measures for women, children, older people and persons with disabilities, and livelihood support. Disaster funds and the 2081 Disaster-Responsive Social Security and Relief Distribution Standards support these measures, together with temporary-shelter and rehabilitation procedures. Access commonly involves local registration, damage assessment and coordination through the local authority, District Disaster Management Committee, local emergency operation centre or District Administration Office. Eligibility, evidence, amount and timing vary by event, province and locality; Nepal does not have one confirmed nationwide fixed payment for every disaster. A reported NPR 50,000 temporary-shelter payment in Jajarkot and Bajhang was event-specific and should not be treated as a general entitlement. Relief normally has no user fee, but registration or supporting evidence may be required, and assistance is not necessarily automatic without assessment. Local governments implement disaster policies, plans and standards, maintain preparedness and response plans, support early warning, organise search and rescue, hold relief stocks, coordinate distribution and report events promptly to security agencies and local emergency operation centres. Public and commercial institutions are required to maintain disaster risk management plans and risk-reduction systems. Measures include river and landslide protection, safer construction and retrofitting. Nepal Building Code NBC 105:2025 addresses seismic design, NBC 204 covers earthquake-resistant earthen construction, and retrofitting guidance supports existing buildings. Roads and bridges, water and sanitation, health and education facilities, telecommunications, hydropower, electricity distribution and irrigation are priority infrastructure during recovery. Recovery begins with damage and loss assessment and can include temporary shelter, rehabilitation grants, reconstruction through a management information system, restoration of public services and livelihoods, and Build Back Better measures. Laws provide a pathway for duplicate copies when official documents are lost or damaged, although implementation varies by local and provincial authority. Households can reduce risk by keeping emergency supplies and document copies, saving warning channels, agreeing on family and community contacts, learning local evacuation locations and checking exposure to unstable slopes, rivers and glacial lakes. New construction and major repairs should follow applicable building standards and local risk information.