At least 49 people have lost their lives, and dozens are still unaccounted for after relentless monsoon rains triggered severe floods and landslides across Nepal on Saturday, authorities said.
The late-season monsoon, which began on Thursday, has caused widespread destruction, particularly in the Kathmandu Valley, where 32 of the confirmed fatalities occurred. Nepal Police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki said that at least 36 people are still missing across the country including 17 in Kathmandu. Furthermore, 34 individuals have sustained injuries due to the disaster.
“Thousands of police personnel, along with other agencies, have been working around the clock to search for survivors, rescue those at risk, and relocate affected families,” Karki said.
So far, emergency teams have managed to rescue and relocate 1,053 people in three districts of Kathmandu valley, most of whom were living in settlements along riverbanks or in the hilly areas vulnerable to flash floods and landslides.
Officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs warned that the full extent of the damage remains unclear as several remote areas have yet to report on the situation.
The heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc on the country’s infrastructure, with roads, bridges, and buildings severely damaged. Domestic flights have been grounded since Friday due to low visibility and dangerous conditions, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Authorities have also halted vehicular movement on key highways during the night as a precaution against landslides.
In Kathmandu, rising river levels have flooded thousands of homes, leaving entire neighborhoods submerged. Major roads leading into the capital remain blocked by debris from landslides. On social media, videos circulated showing the devastation, including homes and vehicles being swept away by floodwaters, while some residents made desperate pleas for assistance.
With more rain forecasted for the coming days, authorities have issued flood warnings for communities living near major rivers, particularly the Koshi and Gandak rivers, which have surpassed danger levels.
In response to the worsening crisis, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak held an emergency meeting with key officials from the country’s security and disaster management agencies on Saturday. The meeting focused on ramping up search, rescue, and rehabilitation operations in the affected areas.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, currently on a visit to the United States, expressed his concern about the disaster on social media. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Oli wrote: “I’m heading to Harvard Kennedy School soon, but my heart is heavy with the news of heavy rains causing floods and landslides in Nepal. Please stay safe, everyone in affected areas. All relevant government authorities should remain on high alert for necessary actions.”
Nepal’s mountainous terrain and complex river systems make the country highly susceptible to natural disasters.
Earlier, a total of 210 people have lost their lives in various natural disasters, including floods and landslides since June 10, according to the Nepal Police.
