Severe floods and landslides in Nepal have claimed at least 148 lives, leaving more than 100 injured across the country, according to police reports. The disasters were triggered by two days of intense rainfall that have inundated large areas, particularly the valley around the capital, Kathmandu. Over 50 people remain missing as of Sunday, and search-and-rescue operations continue, with helicopters and inflatable rafts being used to aid those still stranded.
Around 3,600 individuals have been rescued so far, but residents described harrowing escapes, with many forced to jump between rooftops to flee the rising floodwaters that have submerged thousands of homes. Despite forecasts indicating continued rain through Tuesday, there were signs of relief on Sunday, with some residents beginning to return to their mud-covered homes. However, many remain cut off due to landslides that have blocked major roads and highways.
One of the worst-hit areas was along the Prithvi Highway near Kathmandu, where at least 35 bodies were recovered from vehicles buried under landslides. Other major highways connecting the capital to the rest of the country remain blocked by debris.
In Bhaktapur, east of Kathmandu, five people, including a pregnant woman and a four-year-old girl, died after a landslide caused their house to collapse. In Dhading, west of the capital, two bodies were recovered from a bus buried by a landslide, with ten more passengers feared missing.
Tragedy also struck the sports community, as six football players were killed by a landslide while training at an All Nepal Football Association center in Makwanpur, southwest of Kathmandu. In another heartbreaking incident, four people were swept away by the Nakkhu River in the southern Kathmandu Valley, with eyewitnesses helpless to intervene.
One survivor, Hari Om Malla, recounted how his truck was submerged by the rapidly rising waters in Kathmandu on Friday night, describing the terrifying moment as water gushed into the vehicle’s cabin. With rescue efforts ongoing, authorities are still grappling with the full extent of the devastation.
Survivors of the recent floods in Nepal have recounted harrowing experiences as they fled from rising waters. One woman shared, “We jumped out, swam, and got away, but my purse, bag, and mobile were swept away by the river. I have nothing now.
We spent the whole night in the cold.” Another, Bishnu Maya Shrestha, described how this season’s floods were far worse than in previous years. “Last time, we ran away but nothing happened. This time, all the houses were flooded. As the water levels rose, we had to cut the roof and jump from one roof to another until we reached a concrete house.”
Government spokesperson Prithvi Subba Gurung said the floods had caused widespread damage, breaking water pipes and affecting telephone and power lines. The Nepalese government has mobilized 10,000 police officers, along with volunteers and members of the army, to support search-and-rescue efforts.
Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel, and driving at night in the Kathmandu Valley has been banned. Air travel has also been disrupted, with many domestic flights delayed or canceled.
Monsoon season typically brings floods and landslides to Nepal, but scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating these events. The warming atmosphere is capable of holding more moisture, and warmer ocean waters are energizing storm systems, making them more unpredictable and intense.
