An impactful image shows a street in Kathmandu, Nepal, submerged in knee-high water, reflecting the severe impact of the heavy rains. A man and a dog stand amidst the flooded urban landscape, a stark visual of the disaster.
Nepal is grappling with a profound humanitarian crisis as relentless monsoon rains have unleashed deadly landslides and widespread flooding, claiming the lives of at least 38 individuals as of Sunday. This natural disaster strikes at a particularly vulnerable time for the nation, further complicating the efforts of its nascent interim government, which is still reeling from the aftermath of recent, tumultuous protests that led to its predecessor’s overthrow.
The continuous downpour has paralyzed critical infrastructure, with major highways linking the capital, Kathmandu, to other regions completely cut off since Saturday morning. Air travel has also been severely disrupted, as confirmed by police officials.
This widespread transportation chaos has left countless individuals stranded, many of whom were attempting to return to the capital following Dashain, the country’s most significant Hindu festival. In a clear sign of the emergency’s severity, the government has declared Sunday (a usual working day in Nepal) and Monday as official holidays.
Authorities have warned that the death toll is expected to climb as rescue efforts continue. The Nepalese army has deployed troops and helicopters, actively conducting search and rescue operations across more than two dozen affected areas, according to a Sunday statement.
Koshi Province, located in southeastern Nepal, bore the brunt of the devastation, with landslides engulfing homes and resulting in at least 36 fatalities. An additional two deaths were confirmed due to flooding elsewhere, reported Kalidas Dhaubaji, spokesperson for Nepal’s Armed Police Force. The number of missing persons remains a grave concern, with at least 11 individuals, including four trekkers traversing the renowned Langtang route, still unaccounted for.
Beyond Koshi, the central provinces of Bagmati and Madhesh also experienced severe consequences from the intense rainfall that began Friday night. In the Kathmandu Valley, security forces preemptively evacuated dozens of residents from vulnerable slum areas situated along riverbanks, as rising waters threatened to inundate their homes.
While the central provinces saw a reprieve from the rain on Sunday morning, eastern regions of the country continued to endure heavy downpours.
The severe weather extended its destructive reach into neighboring India. In Bihar, a state bordering Nepal, authorities reported at least 10 fatalities and 13 injuries caused by floods and lightning. An emergency alert was issued across much of Bihar as rivers swelled dangerously, with residents urged to avoid low-lying regions.
Further east, Darjeeling in India’s West Bengal state was struck by a cyclone, which tragically claimed at least 20 lives, as confirmed by state lawmaker Harsh V. Shringla.
Shringla detailed the widespread impact on social media, stating that ‘areas across the hills have been cut off, and roads destroyed.’ He emphasized that ‘This has disrupted normal life and caused considerable hardship to many.’
Nepal, a small Himalayan nation frequently ravaged by natural disasters, experiences hundreds of deaths and extensive property damage from rain-triggered calamities annually. However, this latest catastrophe is particularly challenging, occurring at a time when the country’s infrastructure and emergency response systems are severely compromised due to a recent and arduous political transition.
Just last month, widespread violent protests, fueled by public anger over deep-rooted corruption and economic stagnation, led to the collapse of the previous government and left numerous state offices damaged.
In a concise video address, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, at the helm of the interim government, implored citizens to refrain from non-essential travel.
The 73-year-old Ms. Karki, a respected retired Supreme Court justice, was chosen by the protest movement to head the transitional government, tasked with reforming a system perceived as being exploited by a select few elite political families. Her administration is currently focused on finalizing cabinet appointments, restoring damaged government buildings, and preparing for early elections slated for next year.