The eastern Himalayas, including Nepal and India’s Darjeeling region, are grappling with catastrophic weather conditions. As of Sunday, October 5th, reports indicate that the relentless rain and snowfall have resulted in numerous fatalities and left a significant number of people stranded.
Mount Everest’s Tibetan side is particularly affected, with nearly 1,000 individuals trapped due to a severe blizzard that has blocked crucial routes. Rescue operations are underway, involving hundreds of local villagers to clear the snow. The heavy snowfall, which began on Friday evening and continued through Saturday, led to the suspension of ticket sales and entry to the Everest Scenic Area.
Nepal has been hit hard, with over 40 deaths reported due to heavy rains and flash floods since Friday. Landslides have been a major cause of casualties, with the eastern district of Illam alone recording at least 37 deaths. Five people are still missing.
In India, the state of West Bengal has been severely impacted, particularly the popular hill station of Darjeeling. At least 17 deaths have been confirmed in the region. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep concern, assuring that all necessary assistance would be provided to the affected families. Torrential rains, exceeding initial estimates, have caused widespread flooding. Reports indicate that two iron bridges have collapsed, numerous roads are damaged, and vast areas in districts like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar have been inundated.