Devastating Monsoon Floods in Nepal Claim 192 Lives

Search and rescue teams in Kathmandu, Nepal, continued efforts on Monday to sift through the wreckage of homes after severe monsoon floods, which claimed the lives of at least 192 people across the country. The devastating floods and landslides are a common occurrence in South Asia during the monsoon season, from June to September, but experts warn that climate change is intensifying these disasters.

Kathmandu, the capital city, experienced the worst rains in over two decades, submerging entire neighborhoods. Landslides further isolated the city from the rest of Nepal by blocking major highways. Rishi Ram Tiwari, a spokesperson for the Home Ministry, confirmed that the priority was search and rescue operations, including assisting those stranded on highways.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, a local think tank, pointed to unplanned urban expansion near the Bagmati River as a contributing factor that worsened the disaster.

Nepal’s army reported rescuing more than 4,000 people, deploying helicopters, motorboats, and rafts to bring residents to safety. Bulldozers are also being used to clear nearly two dozen sections of highways blocked by landslide debris.

Merchants in Kathmandu are facing a significant disruption in the supply of fresh produce due to the road damage. Binay Shrestha, who works at a major produce market, noted that while farmers have harvested their crops, roadblocks are preventing them from reaching the city.

Nepal’s weather bureau reported record-breaking rainfall in 14 districts within a 24-hour period, with the Kathmandu airport recording approximately 240 millimeters (9.4 inches) of rain — the highest since 2002. The monsoon, which spans from July to September, accounts for 70-80% of South Asia’s annual rainfall, crucial for agriculture in the region, which is home to nearly two billion people.

However, these rains also bring destruction, with floods and landslides claiming hundreds of lives annually. This year alone, over 300 people have died in Nepal due to rain-related disasters, with experts pointing to climate change as the primary driver of the increasing frequency and severity of such events.