Kathmandu – In the wake of continuous torrential rains over the past two days, Nepal has witnessed a severe humanitarian crisis, with floods and landslides claiming at least 112 lives. More than 100 individuals are reported missing as rescue operations continue across the country.
As per the agency report, the worst-hit region is the capital city of Kathmandu and its surrounding areas, where large portions of the city remain submerged. Significant loss of life and property has been reported, and the city has lost road connectivity to other districts. The relentless rain has forced the closure of airports across Nepal, including in Kathmandu, as well as a halt to all domestic flights. Power outages and disrupted internet services have compounded the crisis, as fallen electrical poles have cut off electricity supplies.
In a record-breaking 323 millimeters of rainfall over 24 hours, the death toll surged to 100 within a single day, with more than 100 individuals still missing, according to reports from Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs. Hundreds have also been injured due to the flooding.
Landslides in the hilly regions have caused the complete closure of 48 national highways. All routes connecting Kathmandu to other regions have been blocked, leaving several districts isolated. Many passenger buses have been stranded since Friday evening, and some have been swept away by landslides, causing further fatalities. In one such incident, 14 bodies were recovered after two buses were buried under debris.
The ongoing rainfall has forced the suspension of operations at all airports nationwide, including Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, where domestic flights remain halted. Due to poor weather and low visibility, most international flights scheduled for Saturday were diverted to India. Even flights that were operational on Sunday faced significant disruptions, as passengers could not reach the airport due to the flooding.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed that 15 major bridges have been destroyed by the flooding, including two key Bailey bridges that connected Nepal with China. The situation remains dire as rescue teams face challenges reaching the affected areas amidst widespread destruction.
