Key Takeaways:
- Six people have died and five are missing in rain-related disasters in Baglung, Palpa and Myagdi
- Major highways, including the Prithvi Highway, Narayangadh-Muglin road and Karnali Corridor, have been disrupted by landslides and flooding
- Narayani and Riu rivers in Chitwan have crossed danger levels, prompting alerts and evacuation preparations
- Flooding and erosion have damaged homes, bridges, roads and hydropower infrastructure across several provinces
At least six people have died, and five others remain missing after continuous heavy rainfall over the past two days triggered landslides, flooding and widespread disruption to roads and infrastructure across Nepal.
The deadliest incident occurred in Nisi Khola Rural Municipality-3, Baglung, where a landslide buried a house, killing four members of the same family. The victims were identified as 45-year-old Shyamkumari BK and her three sons, Manoj, Mukesh and Nishan.
In Palpa, two people died and three others went missing in separate landslide incidents in Mathagadhi and Ribdikot rural municipalities. The deceased were identified as 75-year-old Sher Bahadur Chidi and 59-year-old Krishnakumari Saru. Three people remain missing after a landslide buried a house in Mathagadhi-3.
Meanwhile, in Myagdi, two people are missing after landslides buried houses in the district.
Highways blocked, travel disrupted
Heavy rainfall has severely affected road connectivity across the country.
Landslides have obstructed the Narayangadh-Muglin road section near Namsi Khola and multiple sections of the Prithvi Highway, with authorities continuing debris-clearing operations.
In western Nepal, sections of the Karnali Corridor and Karnali Highway have been blocked in Humla, Kalikot and Surkhet. The Mid-Hill Highway is obstructed in Rukum West, while landslides have disrupted the Rapti Highway and roads linking Surkhet, Salyan, Jajarkot, Jumla and Mugu.
Several roads in Baglung, including sections of the Kaligandaki Corridor and Mid-Hill Highway, have also been affected.
Bridges swept away, hydropower affected
In Myagdi, the swollen Kaligandaki River swept away a motorable bridge connecting Pokharebagar in Annapurna Rural Municipality-6 with Naulibagar in Ward 2, disrupting road access towards Mustang.
The river also washed away a bridge linking Mirmi in Syangja with Harmichaur in Gulmi.
Following heavy inflows, authorities opened all gates of the Kaligandaki A Hydropower Project, temporarily halting electricity generation.
Flooding has inundated Seti Beni market at the junction of Syangja, Parbat and Gulmi districts. In Jaljala Rural Municipality-8 of Parbat, five houses in Farse and Lasti Bazaar were swept away.
Narayani crosses danger level
Water levels in major rivers have continued to rise sharply.
The Narayani River at Devghat in Chitwan reached 10.11 metres, more than one metre above the danger level of 9 metres and significantly above the warning level of 7.3 metres.
Water has already entered some settlements in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-17 and 28, while residents in vulnerable riverside communities have been asked to move to safer locations.
The Riu River at Bankatta reached 4.62 metres, exceeding its danger level of 3.80 metres, although the level later declined slightly.
Chitwan District Police Chief SP Rameshwar Paudel said police have alerted residents living along riverbanks to remain vigilant as rainfall continues across the district.
Flooding affects hundreds of homes
In Rupandehi, the Tinau River swept away six houses in Topmajhuwa, Butwal-11, though no casualties were reported.
Flooding from the Narayani has affected settlements in Nawalparasi East, forcing residents in Botetole of Gaindakot-2 to move to safer locations and inundating parts of Amaltari in Kawasoti.
In Saptari, floodwaters have affected around 500 houses and more than 2,000 people in Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality and Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality.
In Bardiya, three houses were damaged and several others flooded, prompting authorities to relocate affected families.
Authorities issue warning
The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and security agencies have urged residents living near rivers, streams and landslide-prone areas to remain alert and move to safer locations if conditions worsen.
Officials warned that continued rainfall could further increase the risks of flooding, inundation, erosion and transportation disruptions across several parts of the country.
(With inputs from RSS)