Nepal – Dozens Dead After Floods and Landslides Across the Country

Landslides and floods triggered by days of monsoon rainfall affected parts of Western, Mid-Western and Central regions of Nepal.

Local media report that over 30 people have died and over 20 are missing as a result of floods or landslides in the last few days. The situation is volatile across all affected areas, and exact figures of fatalities and numbers affected vary as further assessments are carried out.

According to Nepal newspaper, My Republica, “landslides and floods triggered by incessant rainfall have left 15 dead in Pyuthan district, seven in Gulmi, four in Palpa, three in Makwanpur, two in Udaypur, three in Baglung, one in Banke and two in Rupandehi. Hundreds of families have been displaced in various parts of the country.”

Since then more bodies have been found in Pyuthan district, and the death toll there now stands at 24.

The UN in Nepal report that between 12 and 27 July, 7,983 families have been affected by floods and landslides, of which 5,376 families have been displaced.  As many as 374 houses have been reported as destroyed and 561 partially destroyed.

Flood Warnings

Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology Flood Forecasting Section issued a special flood bulletin on 26 July, saying that weather stations at Kankai, Koshi, Bagmati, Narayani, and Karnali basin have recorded dangerously high levels of rainfall.

Due to this, “water level in Kankai, Bhotekoshi and Bagmati, are already above warning level and probability of crossing danger level is very high.”

The add that “Narayani and its tributaries (Kaligandaki, Binaya Khola, Arun Khola and adjoining rivers), Tinau, West rapti, Babai, Karnali, Mohana are also possibly going to be flooded above warning level from the morning until evening.

“…People living near banks of Kankai, Bhotekoshi, Bagmati, Narayani, kaligandaki, Arun Khola (Nawalparasi), Binaya Khola (Nawalparasi), Tinau, West Rapti, Babai, Bheri, Karnali, Mohana river near banks particularly in Terai District are requested to be on very high alert…

“…people living in hilly region of those river basins are also requested to be safe from possible landslide and local flooding if you are in high slope or near river banks of local rivers.”

River Levels

The West Rapti at Kussum stood at 8.08 metres late on 26 July, well above the danger level of 5.40. Levels have since fallen to 5.14 metres.

As of 27 July, the Narayani at Narayanghat stood at 7.47 metres, where the warning level is 7.3 metres and danger level 8.4 metres.

Forecast

Nepal’s Meteorological Forecasting Division have forecast “light to moderate rain likely to occur at some places of the eastern and western regions and brief rain likely to occur at some places of the central region.”

Social Media

DHM sending flood alert & warning via SMS to related via @Ncell & NTC, #Nepal #EWS saving lives. @prakashh1987 pic.twitter.com/MxoYo3NGDL

— Dinanath Bhandari (@DinanathB) July 27, 2016

Breaking NewsNepal