Over 111,000 leave Kathmandu Valley in a day
More than 111,000 people departed Kathmandu Valley in the past 24 hours as the Dashain festival travel rush peaked, according to the Valley Traffic Police Office.
Since Ghatasthapana, about 467,000 travelers have left the valley, with traffic congestion causing delays on major routes, said National Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Chair Vijay Bahadur Swar.
Authorities have deployed extra police to manage traffic and ensure smoother travel.
Heavy rainfall likely from Oct 3 to 7
Meteorologists have warned of the possibility of heavy rainfall in Nepal, similar to the severe downpour recorded in October last year.
Binod Pokharel, Associate Professor of Hydrology and Meteorology at Tribhuvan University, said there is a high chance of “heavy” rain between Oct 3 and 7.
Posting on social media, Pokharel noted, “Let’s still hope the forecast turns out wrong, but the likelihood of severe rainfall, like last year in Ashoj, is very high.” According to him, three weather models have already indicated heavy rainfall during that period.
He stressed the need to alert farmers in advance, saying, “Since rainfall is likely to last for 3–4 days, farmers should be informed on time.”
Pokharel also mentioned that rainfall would begin to intensify from Thursday night, starting in eastern Nepal, and predicted that this year’s Dashain will likely be rainy.
The Meteorological Forecasting Division also issued a bulletin this morning, stating that heavy rainfall is possible at one or two places in the hilly areas of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces.
Dengue cases surpass 5,000
Dengue infections in Nepal have crossed the 5,000 mark this year.
Since late Dec 2024 up to now, a total of 5,196 cases of dengue have been confirmed. The virus has spread across 75 districts, with 294 new infections recorded in just the past week, according to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD).
Province-wise data show the highest number of cases in Gandaki (1,327), followed by Bagmati (1,191), Lumbini (911), Koshi (737), Sudurpaschim (622), Karnali (296), and Madhes (112).
Health experts warn that the actual number of infections could be much higher than reported. The EDCD noted that the figures represent only a fraction of the real dengue spread, as the national reporting system captures limited cases.
Rain likely across all provinces today
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology’s Forecasting Division has said that due to the influence of monsoon and local winds, light to moderate rainfall is likely across all provinces.
According to the division, this afternoon the hilly regions of all provinces will remain generally cloudy, while other areas will see partial cloud cover.
Rain is expected in the hilly regions of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces, as well as in some Tarai areas. A few places in the Tarai may experience moderate rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning.
Isolated heavy rainfall is also possible in some hilly areas of Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces.
Similarly, tonight, the hilly regions of Koshi, Madhes, and Bagmati provinces will remain mostly cloudy, while other areas will see partial cloud cover. Moderate rainfall is likely in parts of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and a few other regions.
