By Khagendra N Sharma
This year’s disaster, stemming from landslides in the hills and floods in the plains has been the most severe in several years, but it is not a new phenomenon.
It is definitely easier to predict monsoon patterns every year from meteorological data. But why did we not benefit from meteorological technology this summer? Is this current disaster entirely due to nature, or is it the result of human complacence?
Where did we fail? Who is responsible for this disaster? Where does technology fail in this regard? There is no single answer.
The people are indirectly responsible for many factors that result in disaster, such as deforestation, construction of roads and canals and the arbitrary extraction of sand and stones.
They are also directly responsible for many factors such as the selection of inappropriate sites and spurious materials for construction of housing, and disregard for technical advice and expertise.
Are there unseen causes of such disasters? Is Nepal alone responsible, or are there foreign fingerprints on this as well?
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