International Desk, 27th June: Nepal is reeling from devastating monsoon-triggered disasters, including landslides, flash floods, and lightning strikes, which have resulted in the tragic loss of at least 14 lives over the past 24 hours.
According to reports from the news agency ANI, landslides claimed eight lives, while five people were fatally struck by lightning. Additionally, one person lost their life in floodwaters caused by heavy rainfall.
In Lamjung district, situated approximately 125 kilometers west of Kathmandu, landslides overnight swept away three houses, resulting in four fatalities, including two children, confirmed district administrator Buddha Bahadur Gurung.
Dijan Bhattarai, spokesperson for Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), reported a total of 44 incidents on June 26 alone. These incidents led to 14 fatalities, with landslides accounting for eight deaths, lightning strikes for five, and one casualty due to flooding. Two individuals remain missing following a landslide, while ten others sustained injuries.
Since the onset of the monsoon season, Nepal’s Home Ministry has recorded a total of 27 deaths across the country, including 13 fatalities attributed to lightning strikes. Monsoon-related incidents have affected 33 districts, with a cumulative count of 147 rain-related incidents within just 17 days.
The monsoon season, lasting from mid-June to mid-September, annually brings severe flooding and landslides to Nepal’s mountainous regions, causing substantial damage to infrastructure and communities and claiming numerous lives. The authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and provide assistance to affected areas.
This recent wave of disasters underscores the ongoing vulnerability of Nepal to natural calamities during the monsoon season, necessitating heightened preparedness and response efforts to mitigate their impact on lives and property.
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