Kathmandu [Nepal], October 30 – Nepal’s Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel has called for a shorter and clearly defined chain of command to improve disaster response citing lessons from recent floods along the Bhotekoshi and Budhi Gandaki corridors.
Speaking before a parliamentary special committee investigating disasters in the Bhotekoshi and Kaligandaki corridors, Sigdel said coordination among agencies had improved compared to previous emergencies but still needed to become more effective.
He said unclear responsibilities and lengthy command structures could delay rescue operations stressing the need to assign specific roles according to the nature of disasters.
Sigdel also highlighted difficulties in managing airspace during the Bhotekoshi flood when 21 helicopters operated within a 35-nautical-mile area. Unregulated drone flights further disrupted rescue efforts underscoring the need for coordinated airspace management.
He recommended strengthening the Nepal Army’s aviation capacity upgrading airbases and adding aircraft and helicopters as required.
The army also called for specialised rescue teams, better emergency equipment, disaster risk mapping before infrastructure development and improved coordination of foreign rescue teams.
Sigdel further proposed establishing emergency response camps in every province and strengthening district-level leadership in post-disaster recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation.
