Major roads blocked, dozens rescued as monsoon floods hit Nepal

Flooding and landslides triggered by intense monsoon rainfall caused road blockages and multiple rescue operations across Nepal on June 19 and 20. Key regions affected include Kavrepalanchok, East Nawalparasi, Sindhupalchok, Mustang, Myagdi, and Baglung districts, where flash floods and debris flows disrupted critical transportation routes and put lives at risk.

In Kavrepalanchok District, five individuals were trapped after a flash flood struck the Roshi River near Namobuddha Municipality–5. Among them were two tipper truck drivers, one JCB operator, and two others. A coordinated rescue operation involving Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force (APF), and the Nepal Army successfully retrieved all five individuals without injury.

A separate incident occurred in East Nawalparasi, where a passenger bus with 38 people on board, including three infants, was swept off the Narayanghat–Butwal road into the swollen Binayikhola River. The vehicle had attempted to cross despite rising water levels. Rescue teams, utilizing heavy equipment, pulled all passengers to safety. However, the route remains blocked due to sediment and flood debris.

Significant damage to infrastructure has also been reported across multiple provinces. Landslides and floodwaters have obstructed major routes at six points along the Araniko Highway, particularly in Kodari, Larcha, and Koplang.

Other affected routes include the Mahendra Highway at Binayi Tribeni, the Beni–Jomsom road, the Bheri Corridor, and multiple district-level roads in Baglung, Myagdi, and Mustang. These routes are currently being managed with alternating single-lane traffic, with authorities urging extreme caution.

In response to rising river levels and flood threats in urban corridors, Deputy Prime Minister and Urban Development Minister Prakash Man Singh conducted a field inspection along the Bagmati River on June 19. Singh emphasized the urgency of accelerating sewage drainage and embankment reinforcement measures. The Bagmati corridor, which flows through Kathmandu, remains one of the capital’s most flood-prone areas during the monsoon season.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal entered an active monsoon phase in mid-June, with above-average precipitation forecast through the month, particularly in Karnali, Lumbini, and Gandaki provinces. Continuous heavy rainfall is expected to sustain landslide and flood risk, particularly in hilly and river-adjacent areas.

A separate flash flood incident occurred near the Godavari River in Kailali District, where a group of Indian tourists became stranded while picnicking. Six individuals were caught on a mid-river island after sudden water level rise around 16:00 local time on June 18. Personnel from the Godavari Temporary Police Post carried out a rope-assisted rescue operation and safely evacuated all those trapped.

In anticipation of such hazards, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) implemented the 2025 National Monsoon Preparedness and Response Action Plan earlier this month. A Monsoon Response Command Post, comprising 12 federal and provincial agencies, has been activated to monitor and coordinate emergency operations.

Current deployments include approximately 10 085 Nepal Police personnel, 7 615 Armed Police Force members, 7 000 Nepal Army personnel, and more than 100 000 trained volunteers mobilized across risk-prone districts.

References:

¹ Five rescued from flash flood in Roshi River – Nepal News – June 20, 2025

² Floods and landslides obstruct highways – The Rising Nepal – June 20, 2025

³ DPM Singh inspects areas vulnerable to flooding from Bagmati river – The Rising Nepal – June 20, 2025

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

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