101 dead in Nepal floods after relentless monsoon rains

Low-lying neighborhoods in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, were submerged by severe floodwaters on Sunday, as monsoon rains continued to batter the region. According to police, the floods and landslides have claimed at least 101 lives across the country, with another 64 people still missing.

Flash floods and landslides are common in South Asia during the annual monsoon season, which runs from June to September, but experts warn that climate change is amplifying their frequency and severity.

Since Friday, large parts of eastern and central Nepal have been inundated, with several rivers bursting their banks and causing extensive damage to highways. The Kathmandu Valley alone recorded 240 millimeters (9.4 inches) of rain in just 24 hours, the highest rainfall in the capital since at least 1970, according to the country's weather bureau.

The swollen Bagmati River and its tributaries overflowed, flooding homes and stranding vehicles. Rescue operations are underway, with nearly 3,300 people rescued by Sunday morning. Over 3,000 security personnel have been deployed, using helicopters, motorboats, and rafts to assist in relief efforts.

Landslides have blocked key highways, stranding hundreds of travelers, and domestic flights in and out of Kathmandu, which were grounded on Friday, have only recently resumed.

Nepal has been hit particularly hard by rain-related disasters this year, with over 260 fatalities reported so far. The country’s monsoon season, which delivers 70-80% of its annual rainfall, routinely causes widespread destruction. However, the increasing intensity and frequency of these events are being linked to climate change.

In July, a landslide in Chitwan district swept two buses with 59 passengers into a river, killing all but three survivors. The ongoing rains have further hindered rescue efforts, and authorities fear the death toll from recent floods may continue to rise.

Source: AFP, Kathmandu