Nepal is reeling from catastrophic floods and landslides that have resulted in the deaths of at least 112 people over the past 24 hours, according to official reports. The unprecedented disaster, triggered by torrential rainfall, has also left over 100 individuals injured and 68 others unaccounted for as rescue operations intensify across the affected regions of the Himalayan nation.
Since Friday, numerous areas have been submerged due to the relentless downpour, which set a record for the country with 323 millimeters of rain recorded in just one day—the highest amount in 54 years. The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA) anticipates that approximately 412,000 households may be impacted by these monsoon-related calamities.
In response to the crisis, more than 3,000 security personnel have been mobilized to assist in rescue operations. Teams are utilizing helicopters and motorboats to reach those in peril, amid reports of approximately 200 incidents of floods and landslides—though authorities warn that this number could rise further.
The capital city of Nepal , Kathmandu, has been particularly hard-hit, with rivers overflowing their banks and inundating homes in the vicinity. The Bagmati River, which flows through the city, has been reported to be above danger levels due to the severe rainfall. Eyewitnesses have shared alarming visuals of people stranded on rooftops or navigating through murky waters in search of safety. Rescuers have been seen using rafts to extract individuals trapped by the rising floodwaters.
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Compounding the disaster, several highways have become impassable, disrupting travel and complicating evacuation efforts for those attempting to reach safer areas. Arun Bhakta Shrestha, a climate and environmental expert at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), expressed his shock at the scale of flooding witnessed in Kathmandu, stating, “I’ve never before seen flooding on this scale in Kathmandu.”
As the situation evolves, efforts to locate the missing and provide aid to those affected continue, with the nation facing significant challenges in the wake of this devastating natural disaster.
