Opinion | When Ilam wept
Summary
Heavy rains in Ilam caused devastating landslides and debris flows, killing 39 people and damaging infrastructure, despite government precautions. The disaster exposes gaps in risk assessment and highlights the increasing severity of debris flows due to changing rainfall patterns.
Key Points
- Government took precautionary measures including highway closures and public holidays ahead of heavy rains from October 3-6.
- Ilam experienced unprecedented destruction from landslides and debris flows, killing 37 directly and 2 from floods.
- Localized high-intensity rain triggered debris flows not fully anticipated by disaster risk assessments.
- Changing climate patterns and inadequate understanding of local runoff channels contribute to the increasing severity of such disasters.
