Armed Police Force on High Alert for Flood and Landslide Disaster Rescue Amid Monsoon
The monsoon, which weakly entered eastern Nepal about seven days ago, is expected to spread across the country by the first week of July, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. Although the monsoon has arrived, its effects have been observed only in some parts of eastern and central Nepal, and even those areas have not received sufficient rainfall, the department reported. Meanwhile, the Armed Police Force has stated that it has prepared more robustly than previous years to face potential disasters such as floods and landslides caused by the monsoon. Although this year’s rainfall is anticipated to be below average, the disaster risks remain, prompting strengthened preparedness.
The government has arranged for over 8,000 armed police personnel to remain vigilant 24/7 nationwide. The force has also identified risk-prone areas and established temporary monsoon response bases there, the Armed Police Force said. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the monsoon arrived late this year in Nepal and the areas where it has arrived have not yet received adequate rainfall. The department reported monsoon entry into a small part of Province 1 (Koshi) as early as June 19. Subsequently, on June 22, the monsoon advanced to cover the entire Province 1, Madhesh Province, parts of Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces, and some eastern parts of Lumbini Province.
Senior Meteorologist Vibhuti Pokharel of the department noted that there has been some rainfall in the hilly areas of Province 1 (Koshi) and Gandaki Province, while other provinces have not received such rainfall yet. She also pointed out that there is little immediate chance of rain in Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces. Additionally, warnings have been issued about hot winds in the Terai regions of Sudurpashchim and Lumbini Provinces. Although the department had predicted reduced rainfall this year, it emphasized that despite reduced precipitation, risks of floods and landslides remain high, requiring continuous vigilance.
The Armed Police Force has stated it is ready to face the risks with necessary preparations. According to the Monsoon Preparedness and Response National Action Plan 2083 (2026/2027), 21,500 personnel have been trained and 8,180 are kept on standby 24 hours a day. Temporary monsoon response bases have been established at 54 locations across all seven provinces, and operations are ongoing, said Armed Police Force Deputy Spokesperson Shailendra Thapa. In a recent press conference, the Armed Police Force also reported deploying a team of 134 divers, equipped with necessary tools for monsoon disaster response, to 11 high-risk locations across the country.
