KATHMANDU, JULY 1
The skies above Nepal have turned dark, heralding the arrival of the monsoon and the potential for related disasters in the Himalayan nation.
According to the Meteorological Forecast Division (MFD), heavy rainfall is expected in several areas, including Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Sudur Paschim provinces. Some locations in Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces are predicted to experience very heavy rainfall.
The MFD has reported that the weather across the country will remain generally to mostly cloudy today, a condition that will persist through the night. Residents of Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces are likely to experience light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning tonight. This weather pattern is anticipated to affect other parts of the country as well.
Monsoon winds are sweeping across Nepal, bringing significant rainfall.
In the past 24 hours, Pokhara has been drenched with 120.2 mm of rain, the highest in the country, while other areas such as Simara, Janakpur, and Okhaldhunga have received substantial downpours. Even the bustling Kathmandu Valley has recorded 49 mm of rainfall.
The relentless rain has brought some respite from the heat, with temperatures in the Tarai and Madhesh regions dropping to around 35°C. The Kathmandu valley recorded 29.2°C on Sunday afternoon.
In response to these conditions, the MFD issued a monsoon special weather bulletin on Sunday evening, designating several districts as high-risk areas.
"Due to the monsoon becoming active as a result of the monsoon low-pressure line over the past few days, a monsoon special weather bulletin was issued on June 27 until June 30 for caution," MFD said in the special bulletin. "Since this low-pressure line is expected to remain around the southern region/border of Nepal for the next few days, and the monsoon is likely to become more active, this special bulletin is issued today for caution until Thursday," it added.
These high-risk areas include Taplejung, Panchthar, Sankhuwasabha, Terhathum, Morang, Jhapa, Sunsari, Ilam, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Khotang, Solukhumbu, and Okhaldhunga in Koshi province; Makawanpur, Chitwan, Sindhupalchok, and Dolakha in Bagmati province; and Myagdi, Baglung, Kaski, Parbat, Syangja, Tanahun, Nawalparasi East, and Lamjung in Gandaki province.
Additionally, Kapilvastu, Rupandehi, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Pyuthan, Nawalparasi West, Rolpa, and Rukum East in Lumbini province have been marked as high-risk areas.
Residents in these regions have been urged to take necessary safety precautions. The MFD has warned of potential landslides, floods, and debris flows from Monday through Thursday, with urban and Tarai regions at risk of inundations. Rising water levels in both large and small rivers and rivulets pose a significant threat to nearby settlements.
The looming monsoon disasters could have far-reaching impacts on agriculture, health, and transportation. The MFD has called on people and relevant stakeholders to prepare for possible emergencies and to ensure readiness for rescue operations.
Every year as the monsoon arrives in Nepal, the heavy rains bring much-needed water to the land but also devastation in the form of landslides, floods, and inundations.
Tragically, the landslides triggered by heavy rainfall claimed at least nine lives, including an entire family, in Gulmi on Saturday.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 33 districts have been affected by monsoon disasters between June 10 and 26, with a total of 147 disaster-related incidents reported.
These incidents have resulted in the loss of 28 lives, with 14 people killed in landslides, 13 struck by lightning, and one person drowned in a flood.
Additionally, over 35 houses have been damaged by landslides so far, according to the ministry.
