Nepal is grappling with one of the worst flash flooding events in recent history. Over the weekend, more than 200 people were killed in the capital, Kathmandu, and surrounding valleys. The disaster occurred after the heaviest monsoon rains in two decades hit on Friday and Saturday, leaving vast parts of the city submerged.
The floods, caused by intense rainfall, led to the Bagmati River swelling more than two meters above safe levels. Entire neighborhoods, bridges, and roads were washed away by the surge. Officials confirmed by Monday afternoon that 204 bodies had been recovered, and over 30 people remain stranded or missing. Hundreds more have been injured, and many were traveling on buses that were swept away by the raging waters.
Nepal’s army played a crucial role in the rescue efforts. Over 4,000 people were rescued using helicopters, motorboats, and rafts. Rescue teams continued digging through mud and rubble to find trapped survivors. In some areas, ziplines were deployed to reach those who were stranded by the floods. The mountain city of Pokhara, a popular tourist destination, was also severely affected by the flooding.
In the wake of the floods, thousands of residents were displaced, and many were left without power or clean drinking water. The damage to roads has been so severe that all main routes out of Kathmandu remain blocked, and schools in the capital will remain closed for three days.
Experts are linking this disaster to the climate crisis, which has caused increasingly intense and erratic rainfall in South Asia, particularly in Nepal. The monsoon season, which is nearing its end, produced unusual weather patterns, contributing to the heavy downpour over the weekend. More than 300 people have died in Nepal this year from rain-related incidents, with studies suggesting that heavy flooding will likely increase over the next five years.
Environmental experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) pointed out that urban encroachment on floodplains and unauthorized construction without proper drainage along the Bagmati River worsened the disaster. ICIMOD has called for the restoration of wetlands in flood-prone areas to mitigate future risks.
As Nepal continues to face the growing impacts of climate change, the need for sustainable urban planning and flood preparedness has never been more urgent.