The death toll from the devastating floods and landslides in Nepal that was triggered by heavy rainfall over the weekend, has risen to 193, as recovery and rescue efforts intensified on Monday.
The southern part of the capital city, Kathmandu, was severely affected by the flooding, resulting in numerous casualties. According to a police statement, 31 people are still reported missing, and 96 individuals have sustained injuries across the country.
A tragic landslide claimed the lives of three dozen people on a blocked highway approximately 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Kathmandu.The landslide buried at least three buses and other vehicles where people were sleeping because the highway was blocked.
Isolated throughout the weekend
The city remained isolated throughout the weekend due to landslides blocking the three main highways leading out of Kathmandu. However, workers managed to temporarily reopen the crucial Prithvi highway by clearing rocks, mud, and trees that had been washed down from the mountains.
The home minister announced plans to construct temporary shelters for those who lost their homes and provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased and injured.
Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, who was returning home from attending the UN General Assembly meeting, has called for an emergency meeting to address the situation.
Rescue operations underway
As weather conditions improved, rescue and recovery efforts have been intensified.
Residents in the southern part of Kathmandu, which was severely flooded on Saturday, have begun cleaning up their houses as water levels started to recede. The city reported the highest number of casualties, with at least 34 people losing their lives.
Police and soldiers are assisting with rescue operations, while heavy machinery is being used to clear landslides from the roads. The government has announced the closure of schools and colleges across Nepal for the next three days.
‘Risen above its danger level’
In northern Bangladesh, the Teesta River has unexpectedly risen above its danger level, inundating extensive swathes of land across five districts. The surging floodwaters have wreaked havoc on agricultural land, destroying various crops, including “paddy and vegetables,” as well as aquaculture facilities. Consequently, numerous farmers are grappling with substantial financial setbacks due to the widespread damage caused by the deluge.
‘Everything is gone’
The Kathmandu valley, interlaced by the Bagmati river and its numerous tributaries, experienced a catastrophic deluge that caused the waterways to overflow their boundaries. The raging flood waters battered the fragile dwellings constructed from wood and sheet metal, which are home to a multitude of people residing along the riverbanks.
A 65-year-old resident expressed his disbelief and despair, stating, “This is like a nightmare. I have never seen such an extreme flood in my life.” The devastating impact of the flood left him with a sense of total loss, as he added, “Everything is gone.”
India in talks with Nepal
Asserting that the Centre allotted Rs 11,500 crore for the flood concerns of Bihar in 2024-25 Budget, Union minister of state for home, Nityanand Rai, said on Sunday that the govt was engaged in negotiations with Nepal for a lasting solution.
“Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah have been working with active cooperation of CM Nitish Kumar,” Rai said, reviewing the role of national disaster response force (NDRF) in tackling the rescue and relief operations with its state counterpart.
“During the visit of the then Nepal PM in September 2014, Modi had discussions with him on the Bihar flood problem, and in October 2023, a team of experts had visited the country. It held discussions on construction of Saptkosi high dam, Sunkosi diversion barrage and the flood caused by river Kamla,” Rai added.