Kathmandu-Speakers in the Third National Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (NCDDR) here today stressed on the need of strengthening the disaster risk reduction and minimization efforts at the community level.

Inaugurating the Conference themed "Monsoon 2024 and Beyond: Turning Lessons into Resilient Strategies", Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak underscored on making the disaster management initiatives effective through the use of research, innovation and technology, including Artificial Intelligence.

The Conference is jointly organized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) and the Disaster Preparedness Network, Nepal (DPNET).

On the occasion, Home Minister Lekhak viewed that the early-warning system, geological analysis, the use of AI and GIS mapping could help in the appropriate assessment of the risk and in adopting the precautionary measures.

He said that he is going to organize every month the 'Disaster Risk Reduction Program with the Home Minister' for sitting together and interacting with representatives of organizations working in the disaster risk reduction sector on topics as the efforts made in this sector, their evaluation and the initiatives to be taken in the coming days.

Ministry of Home Affairs, Disaster Management Division Chief, Joint Secretary Dr Bhishma Prasad Bhusal shed light on various ways of rendering the institutional capacity and the work responsibility of NDRRMA more effective.

DPNET Nepal Dr.

DPNET Nepal's former president Surya Bahadur Thapa and General Secretary Suraj Gautam shed light on the objectives of the Conference.

Senior geologist Prof Bidyanath Uprety made a presentation in the technical session of the conference, stressing on collective efforts in disaster risk reduction and management in the coming days.

Senior Meteorologist at the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Shanti Kadel said heavy rainfall was recorded in the country this year after 1980, which resulted in massive loss of life and property.

Shiva Banskota of the Department of Mines and Geology and expert on lightning Dr Shreeram Sharma also underlined the need of extending the disaster risk reduction and management programmers at the community level.