Deadliest monsoon in 11 years triggers floods and multiple landslides in Nepal

Incessant monsoon rainfall has triggered floods and multiple landslides in several districts of Bagmati Pradesh and Gandaki Pradesh, Nepal, from Wednesday to Friday, July 8 to 10, 2020. The police confirmed at least 12 fatalities– including three children, and 19 others missing. According to the National Disaster, Risk Reduction, and Management Authority (NDRRMA), based on water-induced disasters, this season has been the deadliest monsoon in 11 years, with more than 60 fatalities since June 12.

The severe weather left several houses and roads damaged, forcing rescue teams to take alternate routes to reach incident sites. 

14 houses were swept away in the Barahbise Municipality alone, after floodwaters from Almo Thado Khola and Kabre Khola infiltrated the settlements.

On Thursday night, two separate incidents of landslides claimed the lives of three people from the same family in Besishahar, Lamjung, while two others died in Aathbiskot, Rukum.

Meanwhile, 12 people went missing after two houses were swept away by another landslide in Jajorkot.

In Myagdi, police were still unable to trace seven people who went missing after their home was wiped out.

In Kaski, seven people lost their lives in the Sarangkot and Hemjan areas of Pokhara City. Five of them, three of whom were children, died when a mudslide swept away a house early Friday.

Around 10 people sustained injuries in the same incident, who are now undergoing treatment at various hospitals. A mudslide also occurred in Jogimara, which blocked the Prithi Highway in western Nepal.

Due to the persistent downpour over the past 48 hours, Narayani and other major rivers in the country became swollen.

The country's meteorological department forecasts further monsoon rains for the next three days. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology also predicts that the water may hit the warning level in various rivers, such as Koshi, Kamala, Kankai, Bagmati, Narayani, and their rivulets.

With the arrival of monsoon, Nepal has seen frequent incidents of extreme weather events.

According to the NDRRMA, since the monsoon started on June 12, which was two days late, there had been more than five dozen fatalities due to water-induced disasters, making this season the deadliest monsoon in the least 11 years in terms of the devastation in the monsoon arrival period.

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