Unseasonal heavy rainfall leaves 88 people dead in Nepal, 31 others missing

Unseasonal post-monsoon rainfall affecting Nepal from October 17 – 20, 2021, has left at least 88 people dead and 30 others missing. In addition, 23 people have been reported injured.

The worst affected were the eastern and western parts of the country, according to the Meteorological Forecast Division.

According to Phanindra Mani Pokharel, spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs, the number of casualties might increase.

Pokharel said 20 of the country's 77 districts have been affected, 20 homes destroyed, along with paddy ready for harvest on hundreds of acres of land.¹

Traffic has been severely impacted after several bridges collapsed and highways closed.

Destruction of the paddy crop is a major setback for Nepal's overall economy as paddy alone contributes around 7% to the national gross domestic product and is the major income source for more than half of the population.²

According to Nepali Airlines officials, at least 100 domestic flights scheduled for an operation to and from the capital, Kathmandu were suspended today.

This is the highest number of flight suspensions recorded in a single day in recent times as air carriers could not operate services to various hilly as well as plain areas due to incessant rains and bad weather conditions.²

The death toll rose to 88 on Thursday, October 21, up from 48 reported on Wednesday.³

References:

¹ Floods, landslides kill 48 in Nepal – Xinhua

² 48 Died, 31 Missing In Nepal's Flood And Landslides – OdishaTV

³ Death toll from rain-induced disasters climbs to 88; 30 still missing – TheHimalayan

Featured image credit: Subodh Kumar