Recent heavy monsoon rains in Nepal have led to widespread flooding and landslides, resulting in a tragic loss of almost 200 lives and extensive damage across the country. The capital, Kathmandu, and surrounding areas have been severely affected, with images showing large parts submerged underwater or buried in mud due to incessant torrential rains causing major rivers to overflow.
The floods and landslides have caused the destruction of hundreds of homes, disrupted highways, and knocked down power lines. This disaster comes shortly after Nepal experienced record rainfall and flash flooding, which scientists attribute to the intensifying climate crisis.
Search and rescue operations have faced challenges in reaching residents trapped by flooding or buried under debris in remote regions. In Lalitpur, south of Kathmandu, the Nepal Armed Police Force resorted to using zip lines to cross flooded rivers, while rescue teams elsewhere were seen digging with their bare hands to free individuals trapped under mud and rubble.
As of Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs reported 192 fatalities and 96 injuries, with many individuals still missing. Despite rescuing over 3,700 people, authorities anticipate a rise in the death toll as rescue teams access more isolated areas.
The devastation extends to central and eastern Nepal, with reports of 16 bodies recovered from buses hit by landslides along a crucial route out of Kathmandu. Additionally, a heart-wrenching video captured the rescue of a two-year-old boy from his collapsed home in Dolakha district, where tragically, his parents and brother lost their lives.
The extreme rainfall, with some areas receiving up to 322.2 millimeters, caused the Bagmati river in Kathmandu to surge well beyond the danger mark. The situation was no better in Pokhara, the country's second-largest city, where a student described streets inundated with rushing water and friends stranded due to landslides.
Experts have highlighted the unprecedented scale of flooding in Kathmandu this year, emphasizing the role of rapid urbanization and poor planning in exacerbating the impacts of heavy rains. They urge authorities to invest in better stormwater and sewage systems, as well as wetland restoration, to enhance the city's resilience to such disasters.
As South Asia grapples with the consequences of the climate crisis, the recent events in Nepal serve as a stark reminder of the region's vulnerability to extreme weather events. With projections indicating increased susceptibility to heavy rainfall and flooding by 2030, urgent action is needed to mitigate the risks posed by such natural disasters.
