Nepalese officials on Sunday (July 7) stated that heavy rain has triggered flash floods and landslides, causing at least 11 deaths in the past 36 hours and blocking major highways and roads.
According to Reuters, Dan Bahadur Karki, a spokesperson for the Nepalese police, said that a total of 8 people are missing—either swept away by floods or buried in landslides—while another 12 individuals have been injured and are currently receiving treatment at hospitals.
Karki told Reuters, “Rescue teams are working hard to clear landslides and open up roads.” He added that heavy equipment is being utilized to clear the affected areas.
A local official mentioned that in southeastern Nepal, the water level of the Koshi River has surpassed the danger mark, often causing deadly floods in the eastern Indian state of Bihar nearly every year.
Bed Raj Phuyal, a senior official in Sunsari district through which the Koshi River flows, informed Reuters that “the volume of the Koshi River is rising, and we are cautioning residents to remain vigilant for potential flooding.”
He stated that as of 0900 local time (0315 Greenwich Mean Time), the water flow in the Koshi River was 369,000 cubic feet per second, more than double the normal flow of 150,000 cubic feet per second.
Authorities have stated that all 56 gates of the Koshi River barrage have been opened to discharge water, while typically only 10 to 12 gates are opened under normal circumstances.
Officials also mentioned that the flow of other rivers in western Nepal, such as the Narayani, Rapti, and Mahakali rivers, is also increasing.
In the mountainous terrain surrounding the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu, numerous rivers have flooded, submerging roads and engulfing many homes.
Local media footage showed individuals wading through waist-deep water, with residents using buckets to pump water out of their homes.
Since the onset of the annual monsoon rains in mid-June, at least 50 people across Nepal have lost their lives due to landslides, floods, and lightning strikes.
During the monsoon season each year, landslides and flash floods are common in Nepal’s mountainous regions. The monsoon usually starts in mid-June and continues through mid-September, resulting in hundreds of deaths annually.
In the northeastern Indian state of Assam, floods in recent days have led to dozens of deaths and the displacement of thousands of people.