Search and rescue teams in Nepal are working tirelessly after devastating monsoon floods have resulted in the deaths of at least 192 people.
The severe weather has inundated entire neighborhoods in the capital, Kathmandu, following record-breaking rainfall, cutting off the city from the rest of the country due to landslides blocking major highways.
Home Ministry spokesman Rishi Ram Tiwari confirmed, “192 people have been reported dead, and another 31 are missing.”
Tragically, at least 35 victims were buried alive as landslides struck vehicles on highways south of Kathmandu.
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The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development highlighted that unplanned urban development along the Bagmati River has exacerbated the flooding.
Rescuers have already saved over 4,000 individuals, employing helicopters, motorboats, and rafts to reach stranded households.
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The flooding has also disrupted supply chains, particularly affecting the availability of fresh produce in Kathmandu. “With the highways blocked, all of it is stuck,” said Binay Shrestha from a major produce market.
Nepal’s weather bureau reported that some districts experienced unprecedented rainfall, with Kathmandu airport recording about 240 millimeters (9.4 inches) in just 24 hours—the highest since 2002. Climate change is increasingly being blamed for the growing frequency and severity of such disasters.
This year alone, more than 300 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents across Nepal, highlighting the urgent need for improved infrastructure and disaster preparedness in the face of climate challenges.
