Why is Kathmandu flooded?

In a recent incident of flooding at Samakhushi, Kathmandu, a 13-year-old child got swept away. This happened because of unplanned urbanization in Kathmandu. Rampant encroachment upon the city’s river banks has increased flood risks.

Old and narrow sewer systems are also to blame as they cannot cater to a burgeoning population resulting from urbanization. Stormwater gushing into these systems accentuates flooding. With rivers constrained because of urbanization, where will the discharge go?

The other problem is climate change. The amount of rainfall that we should be expecting in a year occurs in a space of four months nowadays. Since the city doesn’t have enough natural drainage for the rainwater, rains ultimately end up flooding the streets, and rivers that are already narrow. To avoid incidents like the recent one, the first thing to do would be to let rivers take their natural course. Internationally, many cities have started doing that.

The author is associate professor of urban planning at Pulchowk Campus and general secretary of Regional and Urban Planners’ Society of Nepal