Floods and landslides kill 21 across Nepal as heavy rain damages homes, bridges and roads
At least 21 people have died and five remain missing after floods, landslides and other disasters triggered by persistent heavy rainfall across Nepal since 25 September. More than 1,200 people have been rescued, while homes, bridges and roads have been damaged in several districts.
NEPAL: At least 21 people have died and five remain missing after floods, landslides and other rain-related disasters struck several parts of Nepal since 25 September.
Five others were injured and 1,284 people have been rescued so far, according to Nepal Police spokesperson Deputy Inspector General Abi Narayan Kafle, as persistent rainfall damaged homes, roads and bridges across the country.
The affected districts include Myagdi, Dolpa, Dhanusha, Palpa, Baglung, Lamjung, Rukum West, Kavre, Dhading, Makwanpur and Surkhet.
Landslides cause deaths and leave people missing
Myagdi has been among the worst-affected districts, with four people killed and several others reported missing following floods and landslides that began after heavy rainfall on 24 September.
In Palpa, two people were killed after being buried by landslides in Mathagadhi and Ribdikot rural municipalities.
Three others remain missing after another landslide buried a house in Mathagadhi.
In Dhanusha, a 29-year-old woman, Kamala Shrestha, died after a landslide caused her house to collapse in Mithila Municipality on Sunday morning. Four other people inside the house escaped unharmed.
In Baglung, four members of a family were killed when a landslide buried their home in Nishi Khola Rural Municipality-3. Police had recovered three bodies by Sunday afternoon and were continuing the search for the fourth at the time of the report.
Floodwaters sweep away homes and bridges
Flooding along the Kali Gandaki River caused extensive damage in Parbat, where 66 houses were completely swept away in Jaljala Rural Municipality-8.
Another 23 houses were considered at high risk, although no deaths were reported after residents were moved to safer areas in time.
The swollen river also swept away a Bailey bridge linking Gulmi and Syangja and damaged a suspension bridge connecting the two districts.
The loss of the Bailey bridge has disrupted movement between Harmichaur and Mirmi, forcing vehicles travelling between Butwal, Pokhara and Baglung to take longer alternative routes.
Communities evacuated as roads remain blocked
Setibeni Bazaar, where Gulmi, Syangja and Parbat meet, was also inundated, damaging about 20 houses and forcing affected families to relocate temporarily to a local school.
In Gulmi, flooding inundated Ridi Bazaar and prompted the evacuation of seven families.
Around 250 people from 45 households in Bhulke were also moved to safer areas after a landslide brought down pine trees from a community forest.
Several roads in Gulmi remained blocked by landslides, including sections of the Kali Gandaki Corridor.
The district administration prohibited vehicles from using the affected routes until further notice.
Heavy rainfall drives widespread flooding
The disaster followed several days of heavy to very heavy rainfall across Nepal.
An earlier update from Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said 21 people had died, five were missing and five were injured by Sunday, with 747 families directly affected. Around 2,000 people had been moved to safer areas over four days.
More than 100mm of rain was recorded at 186 rainfall stations across the country over four days. The highest total was 544.2mm at Dedhgaun in Nawalparasi East, followed by 500.2mm at Panchase in Kaski and 472mm at Atraulitar in Tanahun.
Authorities have continued rescue and relocation operations in affected districts, with security agencies using helicopters to reach people stranded by floods and landslides.
