More than 60 dead as intense rainfall hits Nepal and northern India

Days of intense monsoon rainfall across eastern Nepal and parts of northern India triggered deadly landslides and flash floods between October 3 and 5, killing at least 63 people and leaving dozens missing.

In Nepal, at least 47 fatalities were confirmed, most of them in Ilam District, where multiple slope failures buried homes and blocked roads. Additional casualties occurred in Panchthar, Dhankuta, and Sindhuli districts. Three people were killed by lightning, and nine remain missing.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), rainfall exceeded 250 mm (9.8 inches) in a 24-hour period across several hilly districts.

The Koshi River rose above the danger level, prompting the opening of all 56 sluice gates at the Koshi Barrage to prevent overflow into downstream settlements. Hydrological stations along the Gandaki and Bagmati basins also recorded high discharge levels.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued emergency alerts in Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, and Madhesh provinces, warning of further landslides and flash flooding due to saturated soils. Nepal Army and Armed Police Force units were deployed to assist in search and rescue operations, but many remote communities remained inaccessible after roads were washed out or buried under debris.

The Araniko Highway, connecting Kathmandu with the Chinese border, and sections of the BP Highway, linking the eastern and central regions, were closed due to multiple landslides.

Hundreds of houses were destroyed or submerged, and thousands of residents were displaced to temporary shelters established by local authorities. Domestic flights were suspended, and international departures from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu faced temporary delays.

The government declared October 6 and 7 public holidays to facilitate nationwide recovery and relief operations.

Across the border, India’s Darjeeling District reported at least seven fatalities from landslides, with two people missing. Additional deaths were confirmed in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, where flash floods swept through mountain valleys.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) maintained a red warning for heavy rainfall and landslides along the Himalayan foothills through October 6.

The floods coincided with Nepal’s Dashain festival return period, exacerbating transportation congestion and complicating emergency logistics. Hydrological authorities in both countries warned that continuing rainfall could worsen downstream flooding in India’s Bihar state.

By the evening of October 5, rescue operations were ongoing under challenging weather conditions, with national agencies urging residents to be aware of the continued risk of slope failure and river surges as rainfall persisted over saturated terrain.