87 killed, over 60 injured, 72 missing Valley receives record-breaking rainfall in decades claiming 48 lives Rain to end by midnight
KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 28
As monsoon clouds continue to affect the country, at least 87 people have died, over 60 injured and 72 have gone missing as a result of excessive rain, according to Nepal Police.
Forty-eight people were killed by flooding in the Kathmandu Valley. So far, 18 people have died in Lalitpur, 11 in Kathmandu, and five in Bhaktapur. Around 2,241 houses were flooded in the valley, including 1,324 in Kathmandu, 500 in Lalitpur, and 417 in Bhaktapur.
Officials continued to conduct daring rescues using boats, helicopters, and large vehicles to assist those stranded in floodwaters, rescuing 760 people across the country.
The APF Nepal has rescued 760 people alive, according to Joint Spokesperson Shailendra Thapa. The disasters claimed the lives of nine each in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, three in Kavrepalanchowk and Bhaktapur, two in Panchthar and Dhankuta, and one in Jhapa and Dhading.
Elderly people who have lived in Kathmandu for a long time claim that "Today's flood is the biggest after 1994."
The Meteorological Division has reported that the capital has received the most rainfall since records began. Since 1970, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has kept rainfall records. The Valley received 239.7 mm of rain between 8:45 a.m. on Friday and 8:45 a.m. on Saturday, the highest amount recorded thus far.
Amid heavy downpours, after approximately 7 hours, the APF rescued a local trapped in the Balkhu River. One of the rescued said, "We were soaking in the water with our pregnant sister-in-law. When will the preparation be completed? Thank you to the armed police for giving me a new life."
Kathmandu Metropolis Mayor Balen Shah stated on social media about the massive flood in Kathmandu, "300 officers and youths have been mobilised in 17 teams of city police to manage the disaster created due to continuous rain in the capital city of Kathmandu."
He also stated, "The issues in Vanshighat, Kusheshwar, Kapur Dhara, Jadibuti, Teku, Swayambhu, Basundhara, Kapan, Shankhamul, New Road, Ganeshthan, and other areas are being addressed. We attempted to respond to the locals' notices and requests recorded on the hotline telephone as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, rain disrupted daily life across the country, halting flights and clogging all the highways.
It has also inundated Kathmandu's riverbanks. Following a heavy downpour on Friday and Saturday, floodwaters entered Balkhu and other settlements along the Bagmati River's banks.
The vegetable and fruit market in Balkhu has also been swamped. Flood entry into the market forced traders to transport their fruits and vegetables amid rain.
Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson Rishi Ram Tiwari said that floods and landslides have resulted in human losses in districts such as Kavre, Sindhupalchok, and Lalitpur.
Flooding, landslides, and inundation have displaced approximately 400 people, who have been relocated to safer areas, according to officials.
Tiwari stated that people living on the river's banks have been asked to stay in safe places and avoid staying on the ground floor of houses where flooding is a risk. "Until the weather improves, we request that people stay at home except for essential work," Tiwari said.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, rain has had an impact on life in the majority of the Bagmati and Koshi regions. The Bagmati River level has risen in Kathmandu and Lalitpur, reaching the banks of roads and human settlements, according to police.
Spokesperson Tiwari stated that people living on the banks of rivers such as the Bagmati, Bishnumati, and Dhobikhola were asked to relocate to safer areas, which they did with the assistance of security agencies.
According to Ujjwal Upadhyay, a Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Expert, monsoon clouds are currently affecting the entire country.
"Reports of significant damage to life and property are coming in, which is extremely tragic. Today, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be heavy rain in the country's central and western regions. There is a high risk of severe flooding in major rivers like the Gandaki, Rapti, Bagmati, and Koshi, as well as landslides in hilly areas," he said.
"Rain will begin to subside after 5 p.m. today and is expected to end by midnight. Tomorrow, Sunday, the weather will significantly improve, with most parts of the country seeing clear skies and sunshine by 9-10 a.m."
He also requested people to remain safe today and avoid all travel; do not make the mistake of going out. "You will be able to continue working on any type of activity beginning tomorrow," he added.
