Persistent heavy rainfall since early Friday has triggered devastating floods and landslides across Nepal, resulting in at least 66 deaths, with 69 people reported missing and 60 injured, according to home ministry official Dil Kumar Tamang.

The death toll could rise further as rescue efforts continue in affected areas, particularly in the densely populated Kathmandu valley, home to 4 million people and the nation’s capital. The deluge has brought normal life to a standstill, disrupting traffic and everyday activities.

Rescue operations are in full swing, with workers using helicopters and rubber boats to reach those stranded on rooftops or elevated ground. Some parts of Kathmandu have reported rainfall of up to 322.2 mm (12.68 inches) over the past 24 hours, exacerbating the crisis.

The flooding is a result of the delayed retreat of South Asia’s annual monsoon rains, which has caused rivers across the Himalayan nation to swell, spilling over roads and bridges. Police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki reported that landslides have blocked highways in 28 locations, and efforts are underway to clear debris and reopen these vital routes.

Weather forecasting official Binu Maharjan in Kathmandu stated that relief from the rains might not come until Sunday. “Heavy rains are likely to continue until Sunday morning and weather is likely to clear after that,” Maharjan told Reuters. She added that most central and eastern areas had received moderate to extremely heavy rainfall, ranging from 50 mm (2 inches) to more than 200 mm (8 inches).

The extreme weather has also impacted air travel. While international flights remain operational, many domestic flights have been disrupted, according to Rinji Sherpa, a spokesperson for Kathmandu airport.

Of particular concern is the Koshi River in the southeast, known for causing deadly floods in the neighboring Indian state of Bihar. The river is currently flowing at 450,000 cusecs, three times its normal level of 150,000 cusecs. Ram Chandra Tiwari, the area’s top bureaucrat, warned that the river level is still rising.

This latest disaster adds to the toll of a particularly deadly monsoon season in Nepal. Since mid-June, when the annual rains began, authorities report at least 254 deaths and 65 people missing due to landslides, floods, and lightning strikes.

The recurring nature of these tragedies highlights the vulnerability of Nepal to monsoon-related disasters. Hundreds of people die each year in landslides and flash floods, which are common in the mountainous terrain of the country.

REUTERS