The Kathmandu Valley witnessed its highest rainfall since 1970, according to Nepal’s weather bureau, which has warned of further dangers as the monsoon season continues.
Kathmandu, Nepal – Residents of Nepal’s flood-hit capital returned to their homes on Sunday to survey the devastation caused by heavy monsoon rains that have claimed the lives of at least 104 people across the country.
The floods and landslides, which struck the Himalayan republic over the weekend, have wreaked havoc on the city of Kathmandu, submerging entire neighborhoods and disrupting transportation networks. More than 3,000 people have been rescued so far, according to Nepal’s Home Ministry, while at least 64 individuals remain missing.
Ministry spokesperson Rishi Ram Tiwari said that authorities are working to clear multiple highways blocked by debris, which have left the capital isolated from the rest of the country. Bulldozers are being deployed in a bid to restore connectivity.
In one tragic incident, 14 people lost their lives when two buses were buried by a landslide along a highway south of Kathmandu, according to Dhading district chief Rajendra Dev Pandey. The torrential rains, which dumped 240 millimeters (9.4 inches) of water in the valley within a 24-hour period leading up to Saturday morning, caused rivers to overflow and inundate numerous homes and vehicles.
Worst Flooding Since 1970
The Kathmandu Valley witnessed its highest rainfall since 1970, according to Nepal’s weather bureau, which has warned of further dangers as the monsoon season continues. The Bagmati River and its tributaries broke their banks, flooding residential areas and leaving many homes caked in thick mud.
Residents like 40-year-old Kumar Tamang, who lives in a slum area along the riverbank, had to flee their homes as floodwaters rushed in during the early hours of Saturday. “Yesterday, we were afraid the water would kill us, but today we have no water to clean with,” Tamang said, describing his struggle to return to his home the next day.
Emergency Response Efforts Underway
More than 3,000 security personnel have been deployed for rescue operations, utilizing helicopters, motorboats, and rafts to reach stranded residents. Domestic flights to and from Kathmandu, which were suspended since Friday due to adverse weather conditions, resumed on Sunday morning.
The heavy monsoon rains, which typically account for 70-80% of South Asia’s annual rainfall, have once again demonstrated their deadly potential. The number of fatal floods and landslides in the region has surged in recent years, a trend experts attribute to climate change.
Earlier in July, a devastating landslide in the Chitwan district swept two buses carrying 59 passengers into a river. Only three people managed to escape, while authorities recovered 20 bodies. The search for the remaining victims was hampered by fast-flowing floodwaters.
Rising Death Toll
The latest disaster brings the death toll from rain-related incidents in Nepal this year to over 260. Officials are now focused on relief and rehabilitation efforts, as residents slowly begin returning to their homes to assess the full extent of the damage caused by the monsoon’s fury.
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