Nepal had earlier witnessed above-average monsoon rainfall this year, but the pattern has now shifted.
Reactivated Monsoon Wreaks Havoc in Eastern Nepal: 18 Dead, Death Toll May Rise, Latest News: At least 18 people have lost their lives in flooding and landslide incidents in Eastern Nepal over the past 24 hours, ANI reported, citing a police statement on Sunday morning.
According to the spokesperson of the Koshi Province Police Office, SSP Deepak Pokhrel, cited in the report, at least five people were killed in a landslide in Suryodaya Municipality, three in Mangsebung Municipality, and six in Ilam Municipality as of this morning.
Additionally, three people died in Deumai Municipality, while another person lost their life in the Fakfokthum village council.
However, the death toll could rise, SSP Pokhrel cautioned.
“The death toll might increase as we are still assessing the damage. We only have preliminary details of the damages and losses as of now,” SSP Pokhrel told ANI over the phone.
Currently, the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police have been deployed to evacuate residents from floodplains within the Kathmandu Valley, as rivers continue to swell following heavy downpours and warnings of further rainfall.
Security agencies launched search and evacuation operations on Saturday morning in settlements along major rivers flowing through the valley. Personnel conducted door-to-door searches, assisted residents in evacuating, and helped relocate belongings to safer areas.
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology reported rising water levels in the Bagmati, Hanumante, Manohara, Dhobi Khola, Bishnumati, Nakkhu, and Balkhu rivers.
Authorities warned that floodwaters could reach roadside areas and enter settlements. Residents and motorists were urged to avoid traveling along riverbanks due to the risk of inundation.
Forecasts indicate a very high risk of flooding and landslides in several districts, including Sunsari, Udaypur, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Sindhuli, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Sindhupalchok, Kavrepalanchok, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Makwanpur, and Chitwan.
Nepal had earlier witnessed above-average monsoon rainfall this year, but the pattern has now shifted, the report said.
Although the monsoon season typically runs from June to the end of September, reactivation has triggered downpours even during the withdrawal phase, it added.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has predicted that around two million people (1,997,731) from 457,145 households could be affected by monsoon-related disasters this year.
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