Nepal Floods And Landslides Claim 59 Lives Amid Heavy Rains

Incessant rainfall in Nepal has resulted in devastating floods and landslides, leading to the deaths of at least 59 individuals, with 44 more reported missing in the last 24 hours, local officials announced on Saturday. The severe weather has disrupted transportation across the country, with swollen rivers overflowing onto roads and bridges.

Authorities noted that the ongoing monsoon rains, delayed by nearly a week, have caused significant damage, particularly in the central and eastern regions, where rainfall has ranged from 50 mm (2 inches) to over 200 mm (8 inches). Police are actively working to clear debris from landslides that have blocked highways at 28 locations, according to police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki.

Meteorologist Binu Maharjan indicated that the heavy rainfall could persist until Sunday morning due to a low-pressure system affecting parts of neighboring India. “Weather is likely to improve after that,” Maharjan told Reuters.

While international flights continue to operate, many domestic flights have been affected. The capital city, Kathmandu, has experienced significant flooding, with reports of homes and roads inundated. The Koshi River in southeastern Nepal, known for causing floods in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, has reached dangerous levels, currently flowing at 450,000 cusecs, far above the normal level of 150,000 cusecs.

As the monsoon season progresses, the risk of landslides and flash floods remains high in this mountainous nation, where hundreds die annually due to such natural disasters.