The death toll from the devastating floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in Nepal has now reached 151, with 56 individuals reported missing, according to police sources cited by Reuters. In light of the disaster, the government has announced a three-day closure of schools.
Since Friday, extensive flooding has impacted large areas of eastern and central Nepal, with flash floods wreaking havoc across multiple regions. The Kathmandu Valley has been particularly hard-hit, recording 37 fatalities. Witnesses report that the scale of flooding and destruction seen in the valley has not been witnessed in the last 40 to 45 years.
National highways have been obstructed since Saturday due to landslides, leaving hundreds stranded. The destruction includes at least 322 houses and 16 bridges, with over 20,000 security personnel deployed for rescue operations. As of now, approximately 3,626 people have been rescued, with ongoing efforts to assist those affected.
Home Ministry spokesperson Rishiram Tiwari stated that all available resources are being mobilized to clear blocked highway sections caused by the landslides. A tragic incident on Saturday saw 19 people lose their lives when a bus was buried by a landslide in Dhading district, close to Kathmandu. In another incident in Bhaktapur, five people were killed when a house collapsed. Footage showed police in knee-high boots working diligently to clear mud and recover bodies from buses swept away by a major landslide.
Weather officials attribute the severe rainstorms to a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal, which has affected parts of Nepal and neighboring regions in India. Climate experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) caution that unplanned development in Nepal is exacerbating the risks associated with climate change. Arun Bhakta Shrestha, an environmental official at ICIMOD, emphasized that the current level of flooding in Kathmandu is unprecedented.
The floods and landslides have led to widespread disruption, damaging essential infrastructure, homes, and bridges, and displacing hundreds of families. Road disruptions have stranded thousands of passengers throughout the country, complicating rescue and recovery efforts.
