Floods and landslides kill six in Nepal, 407 rescued as rivers breach danger levels

Six people have died and 407 have been rescued since Asoj 8, which fell on September 24, as floods and landslides triggered by days of relentless monsoon rain swept across Nepal, central police spokesperson Avinarayan Kafle said, according to Nepal Press and DC Nepal. Two deaths each were recorded in Bagmati and Lumbini provinces, and one each in Gandaki and Karnali, Kafle said. Two people were injured and are being treated at local hospitals.

The rain has pushed several major rivers past or near their danger marks. The Narayani crossed its danger level at Devghat early Sunday, prompting the Flood Forecasting Section to urge high alert until evening, Nagarik News reported. In Butwal, the Tinau river also crossed the danger level, and floodwaters swept away five houses overnight, Nepal Press reported. In Makwanpur, the Lal Bakaiya river neared its danger level near Jurelibazar, with the same forecasting section again asking residents in flood-prone areas to stay alert, Ratopati reported. Along the Saptakoshi in Barahakshetra, fluctuating water levels have left riverside residents fearful, The Rising Nepal reported.

Saptari district reports the most flooded homes so far. More than 500 homes, 483 in Hanumannagar Kankalini municipality and 17 in Tilathi Koiladi rural municipality, were flooded, affecting more than 2,000 families, OnlineKhabar reported. In Myagdi, a landslide damaged 19 houses and cut power in rural areas as the Myagdi, Rahughat and Kaligandaki rivers rose, OnlineKhabar reported, citing the district administration office. In Nawalpur, the eastern Nawalparasi district, the Kaligandaki river washed away the approach road to a motorable bridge linking the district and Tanahun, severing the Gandaki provincial highway, DC Nepal reported, citing police official Anil Pandit.

Roads cut in several provinces

The rain has paralyzed road transport in multiple provinces, the Department of Roads told Republica. In Kapilvastu, a landslide near Viral Danda blocked the East-West Highway on Saturday night, Nepal Press reported, citing district police. In Baglung, two national highways and dozens of rural roads were blocked, cutting off the district headquarters, OnlineKhabar reported. Rasuwa's road network remains fully cut after earlier Bhotekoshi flood damage, compounding food and medical supply problems there, Nagarik News reported.

Tourism is feeling it too. A restaurant operator on the Maurice Herzog trail in Myagdi told Ratopati that business has dropped as rain and landslides keep trekkers away.

More rain forecast, east to improve

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has forecast continued heavy rain through Sunday in Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces, driven by a low pressure system moving in from Uttar Pradesh, DC Nepal reported. Eastern Nepal, including Koshi province, Madhes and Kathmandu Valley, should see significant improvement as the system weakens and exits, OnlineKhabar reported.

In Karnali, Humla district recorded 114.8 millimeters of rain in 24 hours at Simikot between Friday and Saturday, the heaviest rainfall recorded there since 1978, said Dr Indira Kandel, chief of the Meteorological and Climatology Office in Surkhet, according to Nepal Press and Nagarik News. Authorities have not yet said whether the toll or the number of blocked roads will rise as forecasters warn the western half of the country is not yet clear of the system.