Local authorities i.e. government officials working at the district level and below and elected representatives of municipalities are the steering body of local-level disaster response mechanism in Nepal. The effectiveness of response operation moreover depends on their competency. This paper investigates their disaster response knowledge, preparedness, and perception, and to identify gaps and suggest recommendations.The prevailing competency of Nepalese local authorities doesn’t warrant an effective response during the time of disaster. They lack awareness and preparedness. Amidst their positive perception towards the need of disaster response capacity building, in the void of an effective mechanism, the government has failed to enhance their competency.The national investment for disaster response competency building is meager in Nepal. The country heavily relies on foreign aid. The present capacity-building mechanism should be redressed from the newer dynamic.

In the original article, there were mistakes in introduction section paragraph 11, paragraph 13, paragraph 14 and paragraph 15. These paragraphs contain wrong abbreviation 'SKK' . The abbreviation should be 'SSK' . The wrong abbreviation was also written in paragraph 1 of method section, table 1 and paragraph 2 of effect of rank and training in competition section, and paragraph 1 and 3 of discussion section. Similarly paragraph 11 and paragraph 15 of introduction section, and paragraph 1 of method of analysis section also contain wrong word 'Nepali' . They should be replaced by word 'Nepalese' . The corrected paragraphs and table are given below.

Effect of local level disaster response is always questionable in Nepal. It is because the capacity of local responding bodies' i.e. local administration, elected representatives and security forces is deficit. Overlooking own role and responsibility by public service offices such as health, water supply, road network, rural development, communication, education has overburdened the responsibility of CDO during disaster response and eroded the effectiveness of cluster approach.  Similarly, over-reliance on security forces from relief and rescue to rehabilitation and reconstruction have also garnered lethargy amongst civil administration and public service offices wearing away their capacity. For that reason, it is utmost important that the prevailing tendency should be altered and derailed local level response mechanism should be brought into the right track.

Although the Nepalese Army's regular infantry troops are the tools of disaster response their competency at times becomes questionable. Their disaster response's soft skill knowledge, technical skill knowledge and preparedness activities along with the perception of senior army officers have been analyzed. As per the result the disaster response competency of such troops needs improvements. The organization should focus on competency building activities. Besides, the perception of senior army officers is positive and convincing towards disaster response engagement.