Nepal Faces Devastating Floods and Landslides: 27 Lives Lost and Thousands Affected

Tragic Impact of Recent Rainfall in Nepal

Kathmandu: Since September 24, Nepal has witnessed tragic rain-related disasters, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 individuals, as reported by officials on Tuesday.

Currently, four individuals are unaccounted for, and eight others have sustained injuries due to severe weather events, including floods and landslides, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

The fatalities include 20 from landslides, four from floods, and three linked to heavy rainfall, as detailed by the authority.

The disasters have impacted 1,082 families, led to the death of 114 livestock, and resulted in the destruction of 227 homes, with an additional 142 houses suffering partial damage. Furthermore, 31 bridges have been compromised due to the floods and landslides.

Between September 24 and the following Sunday, the NDRRMA recorded 542 incidents of rain-induced disasters.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology noted that over 100 mm of rain was measured at 186 stations nationwide during the four days leading up to September 27.

Dedhgaun in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) experienced the highest rainfall at 544.2 mm, followed by 500.2 mm in Panchase, Kaski, and 472 mm in Atraulitaar, Tanahun.

This heavy rainfall was attributed to a low-pressure system near Uttar Pradesh, India, combined with moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal, as per weather officials.

To mitigate the situation, the NDRRMA dispatched flood warning SMS alerts to over 980,000 residents.

Approximately 2,000 individuals at risk of flooding were relocated to safer areas, as stated by NDRRMA spokesperson Shanti Mahat. Helicopter rescues were conducted for those trapped in remote districts such as Jajarkot, Myagdi, and Baglung.

Security forces, including the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and Nepali Army, have been mobilized for search, rescue, and relief efforts.

On September 27, 78 individuals in Pauddhar, Annapurna Rural Municipality-5, were airlifted to safety, along with four people stranded on an island in the Bheri River in Jajarkot.

Heavy rainfall also triggered landslides in Chame, Manang, on the afternoon of September 27, causing debris from Ghatte Khola to partially obstruct the Marsyangdi River, leading to the formation of a lake as the two waterways merged, according to local reports.

Residents in Chame and nearby areas sought refuge in forests, caves, and other secure locations as the river levels rose. By Monday, the lake's water level had decreased by about a meter, revealing a submerged bridge.

The flooding has also caused significant damage to roads and bridges along the Kaligandaki corridor, with reports of landslides at multiple locations and sections of roads being washed away by the swollen river. Approximately 30 meters of road was lost at Dedhgaun, while over 50 meters were damaged near Ridi and Rudrabeni.

The NDRRMA has issued alerts to district officials and local bodies, urging them to remain vigilant in downstream areas and evacuate families from vulnerable locations.

Water levels in major rivers, including the Narayani and Gandaki, have begun to gradually decline, indicating a return to normalcy as of September 28, according to the NDRRMA.

These recent floods and landslides come as Nepal continues to recover from devastating flash floods that occurred last month near the Nepal-Tibet border.

The Bhotekoshi River, which flows south from the Himalayan border, carried floodwaters downstream, destroying homes, vehicles, roads, and bridges, and damaging hydropower projects on August 26, resulting in over 1,450 fatalities, with around 5,000 individuals still missing.