Heavy rainfall and severe storms have caused widespread flooding and landslides across parts of India and neighboring Nepal, resulting in at least 19 fatalities and leaving 10 workers unaccounted for as river levels surged beyond critical thresholds.
In Uttar Pradesh, India, 15 people lost their lives and five others sustained injuries over the last two days. Additionally, 117 homes suffered damage due to the extreme weather conditions, with 63 districts affected by the heavy downpour. The state recorded rainfall nearly 19 times its usual amount within a 24-hour period ending Saturday.
Meanwhile, in Nepal’s Baglung district, a landslide buried a house in Nishi Khola village, killing four individuals, including three children and a woman, while they were asleep. In a related incident, ten workers went missing after an avalanche struck the base camp of the 7,126-meter Himlung Himal peak in northern Manang district. These workers were preparing tents for foreign climbers who were not present at the time of the avalanche.
Nepalese authorities have issued warnings about potential flash floods in 49 out of the country’s 77 districts. More than half of these areas face elevated risks as water levels in major rivers and tributaries continue to rise. Despite recent deadly floods that claimed over 1,450 lives and left thousands missing, the districts of Rasuwa and Nuwakot are currently not classified as high-risk zones, though officials advise remaining vigilant.
Floodwaters from the Rahuganga River caused damage to the infrastructure and transmission towers of a 40-megawatt hydropower project, Water Resources and Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha. A technical team has been dispatched to evaluate the damage and work on restoring the facility.
In India, the Central Water Commission reported that 30 river-monitoring stations across seven states are experiencing severe conditions, with water levels surpassing danger marks and previous flood records. Major rivers such as the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati, and Narmada are all above critical levels at various monitoring points.
Flooding and landslides have also disrupted telecommunications in parts of Nepal due to damage to optical fiber cables and power supplies, as noted by Communications Minister Bikram Timilsinha.
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