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Weak monsoon in Nepal not mean no risk of disaster: experts

Xinhua, June 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Nepal will witness a weak monsoon that will be delayed by a week this year, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology confirmed on Wednesday.

Though the monsoon generally begins on June 10 and ends on Sept. 23, this year it will be delayed by a week.

"We will have less rainfall this year compared to previous years. But it doesn't mean that there will be no floods or landslides. Risks of disasters are same," Dr Rishi Ram Sharma, director general at Department of Hydrology and Meteorology told Xinhua.

Every year, this one of the world's most disaster-prone countries faces severe losses of human lives and damages of settlements due to multiple natural hazards.

To minimize possible destruction, the department has already installed the automatic water censors indicating the water level, status of normal flow and warning in 27 major rivers.

Monsoon is expected to be a major trouble-maker for the reconstruction process as the government has almost completed the search, rescue and relief programs.

"Monsoon will definitely bring challenges for the rebuilding process so within a week, major things should be settled down," Sharma warned.

At a time when the aftershocks are still observed in the country, the Kathmandu valley experienced temperature between 33- 35C these days, which is higher than the past years. However, the weather forecasting department said the weather pattern is normal and has no connection with the earthquake. Endi