Submit your Article

The death toll from the recent flooding and landslides has reached 239 while 19 others are missing as of Thursday evening, the Ministry of Home Affairs said.

Likewise, as many as 177 people are injured in the monsoon-induced disasters, Ministry's Spokesperson Rishiram Tiwari shared.

According to Tiwari, so far 17,131 people have been rescued from flood and landslide-affected areas

Likewise, the government has given top priority to rescue and relief operations and efforts are going on to resume vehicular movement by carrying out maintenance works on the highways that suffered damages in the recent incidents of flooding, inundation and landslides.

The highways and road networks in Bagmati Province have witnessed serious damages in the disasters, authorities said.

The government has reported that the floods and landslides triggered by heaving rainfall last week caused damages worth more than Rs 17bn.

According to the preliminary damage assessment report prepared by the government, the disaster incidents caused damage of more than Rs 6bn to the agriculture sector alone. The report states that paddy crops alone suffered damages worth Rs 3.5bn. Floods and landslides affected paddy crops on 58,476 hectares in Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Nawalparasi East, Baglung, Khotang, Jhapa, Kailali, Lamjung, Parvat, Kaski, Syangja, Makwanpur, Kavre and Sindhuli.

Likewise, floodwaters caused damages worth Rs 1.13bn to fisheries on 458 hectares in Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara and Parsa. Similarly, sugarcane crops on 85 hectares worth Rs 340m were destroyed by the floods. Additionally, 24 animal sheds were damaged in Panchthar, Dhankuta, and Terhathum, while floods and landslides claimed a total of 26,205 livestock in Panchthar, Ilam, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Lalitpur and all districts of Madhes.

According to the report, floods and landslides destroyed orchards on 22 hectares in Kaski, Nawalparasi East, Kanchanpur and Rautahat, as well as vegetables on 4,743 hectares in Khotang, Makwanpur, Chitwan, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Bara and Parsa. Office infrastructure sustained damages amounting to Rs 160m across various districts, according to the agriculture ministry.

Likewise, there have been significant damages to energy, drinking water, road and irrigation infrastructure. The energy sector has suffered damages worth around Rs 4bn. As many as 16 hydropower projects with an installed capacity of 667.93 MW suffered damages due to floods and landslides, while 18 under-construction projects with total capacity of 1139.19 MW suffered damages. Projects like Upper Tamakoshi (456 MW), Mandu Hydropower (22 MW), two projects on Hewa Khola with combined capacity of 36.9 MW and Solu Dudhkoshi (86 MW), among others, suffered significant damages. Similarly, five major transmission towers have suffered damages.

Likewise, state-owned Nepal Telecom has reported damage at 312 sites. 

“Although the agricultural sector is estimated to have suffered the most damage, the details of the damage to agricultural crops will be prepared within one month,” said Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal. “A total of 21 districts have been affected by floods and landslides. Of them, Kavre, Lalitpur, Dhading, Kathmandu, Sindhupalchok, Sindhuli and Makwanpur have been affected the most.”

Aryal said that temporary housing will be arranged for people displaced by disaster incidents. 

According to him, families, who have lost their homes in the disaster, will be immediately identified as beneficiaries and grant amounts will be distributed for temporary housing construction. The families will be provided with Rs 25,000 each as the first installment of housing grant, according to Aryal.

“Obstructed strategic roads across the country will be reopened with increased urgency. We will install Bailey bridges on important roads where bridges have been washed away by floods and landslides,” he added.

Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall last weekend have claimed 224 lives, while 24 are missing and 158 people have been injured.

Heavy rainfall in the past days has caused widespread flooding in Nepal, affecting thousands of children and their families, UNICEF has said. 

According to government estimates, around 224 people, including 35 children, have lost their lives, with many others injured or missing. Hundreds of houses have been damaged, displacing thousands of children and their families, leaving them vulnerable to the elements. In addition, landslides and rubble have blocked major roads and are hampering critical search and rescue efforts. The incessant rains, which lashed down non-stop since Sept 27, have been one of the heaviest rains Nepal has seen in the past few decades.

“On behalf of UNICEF Nepal, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones, including children. Children and young people desperately need support. In addition to losing their homes, we cannot underestimate the trauma children have endured and the mental health support they need. At times like this, girls and boys are ever more vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse,” said UNICEF Representative to Nepal Alice Akunga. “UNICEF is on the ground and working around the clock with the government and partners to reach the most affected children and their families with life-saving supplies and services.”

The impact on children is already being felt. An estimated 13 hospitals have been damaged and water supply has been widely affected threatening children’s health and nutrition. Damage to 54 schools has deprived over 10,000 girls and boys of a safe space to learn, play and heal.

UNICEF is working closely with the Government of Nepal and other humanitarian partners to assess the situation and provide urgent response. Pre-positioned supplies—including hygiene kits, bed nets, buckets, water purification tablets and tarpaulin sheets—have been dispatched to children and their families.

“I am deeply worried about the children who will sleep outside tonight and in the coming days; we must act quickly,” said Akunga. “In UNICEF, the Government of Nepal and local partners have a trusted agency that is ready to step-up and scale-up the emergency response for every child so that, together, we mitigate the impact of this terrible weather event.”

The death toll in the rain-induced disasters like landslides and floods triggered by incessant rainfall has reached 217, while the number of those gone missing stands at 28.

It is the latest update shared by Spokesperson at Home Ministry, Rishiram Tiwari. In the natural disasters, 143 persons were injured.

All security agencies have been mobilized for all-out efforts of search, rescue and relief distribution, he added. The injured ones are receiving treatment at various health facilities.

Similarly, those affected by the floods and landslides are provided with instant relief materials.

The government has given priority to search, rescue and relief distribution. The efforts to resume the blocked roadways are also going on, Tiwari shared.

Different parts of Nepal have experienced devastating floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains in the past few months. Floods and landslides in the past few days have claimed many lives across the country, including in the Kathmandu Valley and the vicinity, displaced thousands of citizens and destroyed property/infrastructure worth billions of rupees like roads, complicating rescue efforts. The valley, a symbol of culture and natural beauty, now serves as a reminder of Nepal’s vulnerability to extreme weather events and natural disasters.

Nepal’s geography, home to the world’s highest peaks, also makes it prone to natural disasters such as floods and landslides. According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2021, Nepal is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Around 80 percent of Nepal’s population is at risk of climate-induced hazards, as factors like melting glaciers and poor land management exacerbate these calamities. While the physical destruction is visible, the emotional and mental toll often goes unnoticed.

A mental health crisis

The human cost of disasters like the recent floods and landslides goes beyond the immediate loss of life and property. As survivors grapple with the destruction of their homes, the deaths of loved ones and displacement, many experience severe emotional and psychological distress. Grief, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are some of the mental health challenges that emerge in the aftermath of such disasters.

Impact on mental health

The short-term consequences of the ongoing disaster are evident—loss of life, destruction of homes, and thousands of displaced families. But as the immediate shock subsides, the long-term effects, especially on mental health, begin to surface. Individuals who endure repeated trauma from these disasters are at higher risk of chronic anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. Without adequate support, the trauma can result in lifelong emotional damage.

The absence of a comprehensive mental health policy in Nepal exacerbates the problem. Despite a growing mental health crisis, access to professional therapy and support is scarce, particularly in rural areas. Nepal faces a shortage of trained mental health professionals, and stigma around seeking psychological help remains prevalent.

Responding to the crisis

Amid the ongoing disaster response, mental health support must be given due priority. Mental health workers have been working at displaced sites, offering psychological first aid, group counseling sessions and therapies like trauma-focused therapy to help survivors cope with the crisis. Therapists are using techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and individual therapy, which are useful in addressing their specific needs.

However, with limited resources, these efforts fall short of reaching everyone in need. The government, NGOs and international organizations must work together to integrate mental health services into disaster response programs. Public awareness campaigns are essential to challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness and encourage those affected to seek help.

Building resilience

While Nepal continues to contend with the ongoing floods and landslides, the country must also prepare for future disasters. Strengthening infrastructure, improving early warning systems and promoting sustainable land management are crucial steps toward reducing the impact of natural disasters. But equally important is addressing the mental health toll that these events leave in their wake.

To help the Nepali community heal both physically and mentally, it is crucial to encourage open dialogue about mental health and ensure access to necessary resources. Early intervention, community support and trauma-focused care can pave the way toward recovery and resilience.

The author is a psychiatrist 

The number of people, who lost their lives in floods and landslides in Kavre, has reached 54.

Police Inspector Dinesh Bahadur Kunwar of the District Police Office, Kavre said that 54 people died in the floods and landslides in Temal, Roshi, Panauti and Banepa among other places of Kavre.

Among the deceased, the identities of 38 have been ascertained.

Police said that 337 people have been rescued by a Nepal Army helicopter from BP Highway and other places and 3, 226 by other means till this morning.

Among the roads obstructed following heavy rainfall and landslides, three roads connecting Hetauda-Kathmandu of Makawanpur and Hetauda-Dharan-Chatara have come into operation.

According to the District Police Office, traffic has resumed on Hetauda-Bhaise, Simbhanjyang-Palung-Naubise and Hetauda-Sindhuli-Dharan Chatara roads along the Madan Bhandari Highway since this morning.

Similarly, the Hetauda-Bhaise-Chitlang-Chandragiri-Kathmandu road along the Tribhuvan Highway came into operation on Sunday evening.

Police Inspector Thakur Prasad Sapkota, acting spokesperson at the District Police Office, informed that the traffic has resumed after removing the landslide debris.

The road was obstructed after a landslide at Daman in Thaha Municipality-5 in Makawanpur. It is still completely blocked due to landslides at Ghattepakha of Bakaiya Rural Municipality-12 and Lamrang and the ward 11, Ampachaur.

According to Police Inspector Sapkota, the Kulekhani-Fakhel-Farping road of Indrasarovar Rural Municipality-3 has been completely obstructed due to A landslide at Ram Chandra Bhanjyang along the Dakshinkali-Chhaimle-Sisneri road.

The Thankot-Kulekhani road section has been completely disrupted due to A landslide at Simlang of Indrasarovar Rural Municipality-1 on the Kulekhani-Markhu inner road section.

Sapkota said that the road connecting Hetauda-Kulekhani has been completely blocked due to landslides at Ratomate of Bhimphedi Rural Municipality-4 and Dhokaphedi of Bhimphedi-6.

Efforts are being made to clear the landslide debris, he added.

Pakistan has expressed its readiness to provide assistance to Nepal affected by floods and landslides.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives due to devastating floods and extended sympathy on behalf of the government of Pakistan and the people of his country to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the people of Nepal.

According to its Kathmandu-based Embassy, Pakistan, which had suffered a calamitous flood in 2022, stood in full solidarity with Nepal in this hour of grief and expressed readiness to provide necessary assistance to the government of Nepal.

As many as 192 people have so far lost their lives and 30 others have gone missing in the floods, landslides and inundation caused by incessant rains.

Home Ministry spokesperson Rishiram Tiwari informed that 194 people were injured in the incidents of natural disaster.

He said that more than 4,500 disaster-affected people have been rescued so far by mobilizing all security agencies for search, rescue and relief after the floods and landslides.

Emergency relief materials, including food, have been provided to the floods and landslides affected people and the injured are being treated free of cost.

Spokesperson Tiwari said that efforts are being made to open the obstructed highway for the operation of traffic.

Landslides and floods triggered by incessant rains in the past two days damaged various 16 hydropower projects.

According to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN), floods inflicted damages on powerhouses, transmission lines, and other structures.

The details of the loss are being collected and it may go up.

The dam site and a pond to filter sand of the Upper Tamakoshi Project have been damaged. The Project is being developed by the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Limited, an auxiliary company of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

Four people, including security personnel and two workers, have gone missing in the landslide that struck the Project structure on Saturday late morning, according to Company CEO Mohan Prasad Gautam.

The production from a 456-megawatt project has been disrupted, causing issues in the overall power supply system. 

The NEA said that it has been trying to fix issues in the power distribution due to the damage to power production centers. It said it has disrupted the power supplies of 980 megawatts per hour due to the disaster's impacts.

According to IPPAN, the powerhouse of the 22-megawatt-capacity Bagmati Small Hydropower Project is completely submerged. This project is promoted by Mandu Hydropower. Kahnikhola Hydropower, Mandu Hydropower and other hydropower projects have informed about the halt in their production to Nepal Stock Exchange as well. 

Similarly, power production of the 22.1-megawatt-capacity Lower Hewakhola Hydropower Project promoted by Mountain Hydro Nepal has been closed due to flooding. This project was also affected due to flooding last year. The production of the 14.9 megawatts capacity Hewakhola Hydropower Project promoted by Panchthar Power has also been halted due to flooding. The reconstruction of this project was about to be completed after it was damaged by flooding last year and it is again damaged.

Power production of the 86-megawatt-capacity Solu Dudhkoshi Hydropower Project promoted by Sahas Energy has also been halted as the dam of the project suffered damage.

The dam and other structures of the three-megawatt-capacity Maikhola Cascade Hydropower Project have been damaged. This project is promoted by the Sagarmatha Hydropower Company.

IPPAN said that the dam and transmission line of the 9.6-megawatt-capacity Maikhola Hydropower Project have suffered damage. This project is also promoted by Sagarmatha Hydroelectricity Company.

Power production has also halted at Pheme Khola Hydropower Project as the Sutrikhola rivulet damaged the power production structures.

The access road and safety wall of the Suparnyadi hydropower project with a total capacity of 40 MW have been damaged due to flooding. The Elep River Tatopani hydropower project has also been damaged by the flood, while the camp house and access road of the 216 megawatts Upper Trishuli-1, constructed with a Korean investment, have also been damaged.

Likewise, three containers loaded with construction materials have been washed away. The crusher of the Hewakhola hydropower Project has been buried and the access road has been damaged.

Similarly, due to the flood, the tower of the transmission line collapsed and the equipment brought to connect the power house were washed away.

A problem has arisen due to a landslide in the access road of Sabhakhola-B hydropower project. Likewise, the powerhouse has been buried and the dam has been damaged.

According to IPPAN, the access road of Sabhakhola-C Hydroelectric Project has been damaged and the road infrastructure of Landruk Modi Hydroelectric Project has also been washed away. The flood has swept away the construction equipment of the Super Trishuli Hydropower Project.

The project with a total capacity of 100 MW is under construction. Two excavator loaders and three tippers of the project have been swept away.

Similarly, the Bailey bridge has been washed away, the power house which was under construction has been buried, according to IPPAN. When the power generation from the affected project was stopped due to floods, the pressure was placed on the NEA's system. Because of this, the NEA had to import an additional 300 megawatts of electricity from India on Saturday alone.

The death toll in the floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall has reached 148 while the number of people gone missing stands at 55.

As the rains lashed out various districts including the Kathmandu Valley itself, incidents of landslide, flood and inundation took such a number of lives and damaged huge property.

It has been learnt that 100 people were injured in the recent catastrophes.

Categorically, Dhading district witnessed 38 deaths, Lalitpur 22, Kathmandu 16, Kavre 29, Makawanpur seven, Sindhpalchowk six, and Solukhumbu, Panchthar and Bhaktapur five each, according to Rishiram Tiwari, Spokesperson at Home Ministry.

Similarly, Dolakha had three casualties, Sindhuli, Dhankuta, Jhapa, Ramchhap and Mahottari two each, and Udayapur, Ilam, Saptari, and Nuwakot one each.

A total of 9,983 security persons were mobilized for search and rescue operations in the disaster-hit areas, while 3,662 people have been rescued so far.

The floods and landslides pulled down 322 houses and 16 bridges, according to data provided by the Armed Police Force.

All the roads leading to Kathmandu from Hetauda are closed as they are disrupted due to flood and landslides triggered by incessant rains from Thursday till Saturday.

The Hetauda-Kathmandu road section, the Kanti Highway, the Bhimphedi-Kulekhani-Sisneri-Dakshinkali-Kathmandu roadway, the Kulekhani-Matatirtha-Kathmandu road and the Tribhuvan Highway remain obstructed due to the landslides and floods occurred on Saturday, the District Administration Office Makawanpur said. 

Chief District Officer Tirtharaj Chiluwal said that effors are on to open the Tribhuvan Highway by the evening today. According to him, it will take some time to open the other roadways except Tribhuvan Highway.

CDO Chiluwal added that the District Administration is making coordination with the police, the local levels and the Department of Roads to clear the landslide debris and repair the roads damaged by landslides and floods at different places.

So far, 100 people have died while 67 are reported missing in the late monsoon-induced floods and landslides that took place across the country. In addition, another 100 people have been injured in the disaster.

According to the Home Ministry, 20 people died in Lalitpur, 15 in Dhading, 12 in Kathmandu, 10 in Kavre, seven in Makawanpur, six in Sindhupalchowk, five in Solukhumbu, five in Panchthar and five in Bhaktapur.

Furthermore, three people have died in Dolakha, two in Sindhuli, two in Dhankuta, two in Mahottari, one each in Ramechhap, Jhapa, Udayapur, Ilam, Saptari and Nuwakot.

According to Rishiram Tiwari, spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs, a total of 9,983 security personnel have been mobilized for search and rescue in the floods and landslides-affected areas and 3,039 people have been successfully rescued so far.

Every monsoon season, Nepal grapples with the life-giving rains turning into a potential threat, unleashing devastating floods and landslides. Overflowing rivers and streams inundate surrounding areas, causing loss of life, livestock, homes and infrastructure. Heavy rain disrupts agriculture and destroys precious topsoil, shattering lives. In the past one decade alone, over 1800 people have lost their lives due to monsoon disasters in Nepal. During that period, about 400 people have gone missing and more than 1500 people have suffered injuries. 

The recent monsoon has been particularly brutal, with reports of casualties, missing individuals and widespread damage. This year’s monsoon can affect as many as 1.8m people and four lakh households. As of 10 Aug 2024, the monsoon has claimed 170 lives since June 10 when it began. Initial reports show it has displaced over 4,279 families, inundated 384 houses, destroyed 270 homes, 102 sheds, 43 bridges, two schools and two government offices, inundating 182 houses and damaging hundreds more.

Many times, human factors have added to the losses. Look at the recent example of the Simaltal landslide mishap of July 12 night. The landslide swept two buses, and it is believed there were 65 people in the buses, of which three passengers swam to safety. While 25 bodies have been found, others remain missing. In the first place, the landslide seems to be a result of improper slope management while constructing the Mugling-Narayanghat Highway, and opening Simaltal-Bangesal-Dumre rural road on the slopes above the highway. Secondly, driving the vehicles on a rainy night under the compromised visibility added to the risks.

Settlements in the river banks adjoining roads are another major reason for heavy losses. The high losses due to the Melamchi flood of 15 June 2021 resulted not only from the climate change and associated heavy rains, but also from the fact that human settlements had extended to lower alluvial deposits. In many places, improper construction of roads over small streams and flawed sewage management systems result in inundation whenever heavy rains occur. Such was the case of the 2021 Kapan Flood, right in northern Kathmandu.

The impact goes beyond immediate losses. Displaced communities face a desperate struggle to secure food, shelter and medical care. Livelihoods are disrupted, and the psychological trauma can be long-lasting. The economic toll is significant, with destroyed infrastructure and hampered agricultural production impacting the entire nation.

Post-disaster management

In the face of such devastation, the need for a swift and coordinated response to deliver life-saving aid is paramount. One approach gaining traction is the ‘one-door policy’, where all relief efforts are channeled through a single government entity. This centralized system promises streamlined resource allocation and standardized distribution. 

Following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, Nepal received massive humanitarian support from home and abroad. Rescue workers worked day and night to rescue the people buried under rubble of collapsed structures. Nepalis are grateful for this. We also witnessed, in the flood of donor agencies, some taking advantage of the distressed situation and engaging in improper activities. Besides, many would go to some easily accessible poor countryside, distribute aid materials, take selfies and post them on social media. This way, some areas received more than what they needed and others received too little. This prompted the government to adopt a one-door policy.

By directing all aid through a central channel, the government can ensure resources are strategically deployed toward the most critical needs. This eliminates duplication of efforts and fosters fairness in distribution. Additionally, a single point of contact enhances accountability and fosters trust with donors. However, bureaucratic hurdles can create bottlenecks, delaying aid delivery when swift action is crucial. Local NGOs, with established relationships and a deeper understanding of local nuances, can tailor aid distribution more effectively.

The one-door policy has been a source of debate in Nepal. The policy introduced in 2015 has been implemented to prevent uneven aid distribution and ensure remote areas received support. However, this centralized approach faced criticism for being slow and inefficient. Many NGOs and private entities felt hamstrung by the need for government approval, leading to delays. In the aftermath of the 2017 floods and landslides, the government again enforced the one-door policy. While the intention was to streamline efforts, critics argue it led to logistical challenges and inefficiencies. There were reports of aid being stuck in red tape while victims remained underserved.

The way forward

One-door-policy does not discourage local governments from actively coordinating rescue works and distribution of reliefs to the needy. To facilitate prompt response, domestic NGOs may be allowed to cooperate with local governments. As to the foreign governments and INGOs willing to support, we should make sure that they comply with our one-door-policy, that they do not take advantage of our calamity to create one or another form of social disharmony, that they do no harm to the self-respect of our suffering people, that they do not try to impose or promote their interests, and that they confine their support to the extent we need.

A mountainous country located in a quake-prone region, Nepal faces multiple threats of heavy rains, floods, landslides, GLOFs, droughts, famines, fires, epidemics, earthquakes and other disasters. Keeping this in view, the government has formed a high-level National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management under the Prime Minister. Through a collaborative approach that marries centralized control with local expertise, Nepal can build resilience and ensure life-saving aid reaches those who need it the most.

As many as 134 people have lost their lives as of Thursday due to floods and landslides since June 10.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Nepal Police and Nepal Police Spokesperson, Dan Bahadur Karki, said that two people died in the Kathmandu Valley, 22 in Koshi Province, six in Madhes Province, 25 in Bagmati Province and 38 in Gandaki Province.

Likewise, 23 people lost their lives in Lumbini Province, eight in Karnali Province and 10 in Sudurpaschim Province.

Karki stated that 148 people were injured including nine in the Kathmandu Valley, 34 in Koshi Province, nine each in Madhes, Lumbini and Bagmati Provinces, 29 in Gandaki Province, 35 in Karnali Province and 14 in Sudurpaschim Province.

Seven people are still missing in the floods and landslides and a search for them is underway, DIG Karki said.

A total of 4,030 families were displaced by the monsoon-related disasters during the period, according to Karki.

Vehicular movement along the Devighat-Galchi road has been obstructed due to landslides triggered by incessant rainfall.

Chief of the District Police Office, Shanti Raj Koirala informed that the landslides disrupted the movement at four different places.

Landslides occurred in two places while vehicular movement has been disrupted in two places due to road collapse.

It may take some time to resume traffic on the road, he said.