Since Friday, heavy monsoon rains have battered Nepal, causing deadly landslides, rising rivers, and widespread flooding. At least 52 people died, seven went missing, and 27 were injured in the last three days, according to an Armed Police Force (APF) spokesperson.
Kalidas Dhaubaji, director‑insp. general of the APF, told reporters that 38 lives were lost in Ilam district alone, where massive landslides buried homes and roads. “The eastern part of the country has been hardest hit,” he said, adding that the storm has led to extensive damage across the region.
The flooding is more than a human tragedy. Infrastructure is in crisis. The Independent Power Producers’ Association (IPPAN) reports that 18 hydropower projects—13 operating and five under construction—have been hit by landslides and floods. These disruptions have shut down 105.4 MW of power generation, leaving communities without electricity.
The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation said the continuous rains have eroded about 1,500 metres of riverbank embankments and caused a preliminary loss of roughly ₹100 million. Several irrigation schemes now sit underwater, threatening food production.
Water levels across multiple rivers have spiked. The Bagmati, Trishuli, Eastern Rapti, Lalbakaiya, and Kamala rivers crossed alert levels, while the Saptakoshi and its tributaries – Tamor, Sunkoshi, and Arun – breached danger levels. “The currents are receding but the risk remains high,” said the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. The Kosi River, known as the “Sorrow of Bihar,” still threatens to flood parts of India’s Bihar as it meanders through the Himalayas.
The government’s Monsoon Response Command Post, a unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has declared an emergency response plan. Authorities will set up relief camps, gather data on losses, and speed up rescue operations. They will also push local governments to distribute aid, rebuild roads, restore water and power supply, and reconnect communication networks.
Civil society groups are calling for swift action to help families who lost loved ones. “We need immediate assistance for the bereaved,” a local NGO said. Meanwhile, engineers are racing to repair the damaged hydropower facilities and re‑open critical roads.
The disaster highlights how Nepal’s natural beauty comes with a high climate risk. Environment experts warn that rising temperatures and intense monsoon patterns increase the likelihood of landslides and floods. The government faces a tough task of restoring infrastructure and protecting communities from future storms.
In a country that relies heavily on its river systems for clean power, the monsoon has turned the tide from opportunity to challenge. Nepal’s leaders and communities must negotiate the delicate balance between development and resilience in the face of escalating weather extremes.
Source: ianslive
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