Severe floods and landslides in Nepal have resulted in the deaths of at least 100 people, with officials reporting widespread devastation across the country following two days of torrential rainfall. The downpour has flooded vast areas, particularly around the Kathmandu Valley, leaving many stranded on rooftops and prompting rescue operations with rafts.
Thousands of homes near rivers have been submerged, and major highways remain blocked by floodwaters and landslides. Despite forecasts predicting continued rainfall until Tuesday, some signs of relief appeared on Sunday, with weather conditions easing slightly.
A government spokesperson confirmed that over 3,000 people have been rescued, but many more remain missing. The floods and landslides have wreaked havoc, claiming numerous lives. In one tragic incident, a landslide in Bhaktapur, east of Kathmandu, caused a house to collapse, killing five people, including a pregnant woman and a young child, according to state media.
Meanwhile, in Dhading, west of the capital, two bodies were recovered from a bus that was buried under a landslide. A total of 12 people, including the driver, were believed to be onboard when the disaster struck. In another heart-wrenching episode, six football players were killed by a landslide at a training facility operated by the All Nepal Football Association in Makwanpur, southwest of Kathmandu.
The floods have also swept people away in the southern Kathmandu Valley. In a particularly dramatic scene, four individuals were washed away by the Nakkhu River, leaving onlookers helpless. “For hours, they pleaded for help,” said eyewitness Jitendra Bhandari, speaking to the BBC. “We couldn’t do anything.”
Truck driver Hari Om Malla described his ordeal after his vehicle was submerged by floodwaters in Kathmandu. “The water rushed into the cabin as the rain intensified,” he said. “We managed to jump out and swim to safety, but I lost my purse, phone, and bag. Now I have nothing, and we spent the entire night in the cold.”
Government spokesman Prithvi Subba Gurung reported that the flooding had damaged vital infrastructure, disrupting water supplies, telephone networks, and electricity services. In response, the government has mobilized 10,000 police officers, along with volunteers and military personnel, to aid in search and rescue missions.
Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and imposed a nighttime driving ban in the Kathmandu Valley due to the hazardous conditions. Most major highways, including those connecting the capital to the rest of the country, remain impassable, and air travel has also been affected, with many domestic flights canceled or delayed.
Nepal experiences flooding and landslides annually during the monsoon season, but experts warn that such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. Scientists explain that a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, while warmer ocean temperatures fuel more erratic and powerful storms, amplifying the risks of natural disasters.
SOURCE: BBC
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