International Desk, 29th September: Heavy rainfall has unleashed widespread chaos across Nepal, causing severe floods and landslides that have claimed at least 66 lives, with over 60 people injured. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as 69 individuals remain missing, according to Dil Kumar Tamang, spokesperson for the Nepal Home Ministry.
Among the hardest-hit areas is the Kathmandu Valley, home to nearly 4 million people, where 34 people have lost their lives. Flooding and landslides have severely impacted infrastructure, with 63 highways blocked and several rivers overflowing, leaving roads and bridges inundated.
Acting Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh convened an emergency meeting with key ministers and security officials to coordinate the government’s response. The government has declared a three-day closure of all schools across Nepal and suspended ongoing examinations as part of immediate relief measures.
Kathmandu, the nation’s capital, faced particularly dire circumstances, suffering a city-wide power outage after floodwaters damaged a critical transmission line. Although power was restored by evening, entry points to the capital remain blocked by landslides. The flooding has submerged 226 homes in the city, with security forces and emergency teams scrambling to rescue trapped residents.
Nearly 3,000 security personnel have been deployed to aid in rescue efforts, with Nepal’s Home Minister, Ramesh Lekhak, stating that the government’s priority is the rescue and relief of affected individuals. Night travel for buses on highways has been banned, and private vehicle use discouraged as landslides continue to pose serious risks.
The annual monsoon season in Nepal frequently brings destructive floods and landslides, which are particularly devastating in the country’s mountainous regions. Each year, hundreds of lives are lost to these natural disasters, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability of Nepal’s population during the rainy season. Rescue operations are continuing, but authorities warn that worsening weather conditions could further complicate efforts.