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
