Heavy rains trigger devastating floods and landslides across Nepal


Kathmandu: Continuous rains since Friday night have caused damage due to floods and landslides in various places.

Significant damage has occurred particularly in Koshi, Madhesh, and Bagmati provinces. Highways in various locations have been blocked.

Ilam has suffered the highest human casualties. As of Sunday morning, Ilam police have confirmed at least 18 deaths due to landslides.

According to Police SSP Deepak Pokhrel, landslides in various locations of Suryodaya, Deumai, Maansebung, Phakfokthum, and Ilam municipalities have caused major damage to both lives and property.

Koshi Province

Suryodaya Municipality–1 Manebhanjyang: 5 deaths

Maansebung Rural Municipality–1 Patigaun: 3 deaths

Deumai Municipality–5 Dhare and Dhusrune: 3 deaths

Phakfokthum Rural Municipality–3 Ratamate: 1 death

Ilam Municipality–5 Ghosgaun: 6 deaths

Most rural roads in Ilam are blocked. Armed Police, Nepal Police, and local residents are engaged in rescue and relief efforts. The administration has urged residents in risk-prone areas to remain vigilant.

In Jhapa as well, the floodwaters of the Kankai Mai have washed away sections of the Hulaki Highway, leading to a complete halt in transportation. In Jhapa Rural Municipality–2 alone, 500 households have been inundated. Efforts to relocate locals to safe places are ongoing.

Madhesh Province

Greater damage has occurred in Parsa and Rautahat districts.

The police office at Birgunj Bus Park has been inundated.

38 households from Ward 11 of Birgunj, 2 families from Dhobini–5, and 5 families from Jagarnathpur–3 have been relocated to safe places.

The Baudhimai area has been flooded, where 14 households have been transferred.

In Rautahat, 3 people have died due to lightning strikes.

In Chandrapur, the east-west highway has been obstructed due to high water flow at Laska.

In Mahottari’s Bardibas–5, a tree has fallen, allowing the highway to operate on a one-way basis.

Police have stated that details of damage in other places are being collected.

Bagmati Province

In Kathmandu Metropolitan City–14, near Kohinoor Housing by the Karakhusi River, road erosion has affected 28 houses. More than 500 people have been relocated to safe places.

In Bhaktapur, there have been no human casualties so far, but some houses in Sagwari and Madhyapur Thimi have been inundated.

Risk of landslides and road subsidence has been observed in various wards of Changunarayan. Residents of Wards 6 and 8 have been urged to stay in safe places.

In Lalitpur’s Godawari–14 Thenba, 3 people have been injured when a wall collapsed. There are no other human casualties in Lalitpur.

Major highways leading to the capital are also blocked:

BP Highway (Mangaltar–Sindhuli): Road subsidence at five–six places

Muglin–Prithvi Highway: Operating on a one-way basis

Araniko Highway: Blocked

Kanti Lokpath (Bagmati Bridge): Completely blocked

Pasang Lhamu Highway (ahead of Dhunche): Landslide

Bahrbise and Kavre (Khawa): Landslide

Hetauda–Kathmandu route: Problems due to flooding of Sisneri Khola

Meanwhile, in the Langtang area, 4 people have gone missing due to increased river flow. Search operations are ongoing.