Death toll in Nepal’s floods and landslides crosses 100, dozens still missing

Nepal continues to reel under the impact of severe flooding and landslides, with the death toll surpassing 100, and dozens more still missing. Rescue efforts ramped up on Sunday after two buses en route to Kathmandu were buried in a landslide, resulting in the recovery of 14 bodies overnight. Over 3,000 security personnel, including Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force, have been deployed for rescue missions across the nation, using helicopters and motorboats to assist those trapped.

The Kathmandu Valley, which recorded an unprecedented 323 millimeters of rainfall within 24 hours, remains a hotspot of devastation. With 34 confirmed deaths, it has been severely affected by landslides that have blocked highways, cutting off the capital from other regions. Monsoon rains, which typically end in September, are expected to extend into October this year, causing further concern.

Nepal’s Home Minister, Ramesh Lekhak, said search and rescue operations are in full swing, as the armed forces collaborate to manage the crisis. The heavy rainfall is attributed to a low-pressure system from India, exacerbating an already precarious situation in the Himalayan nation. Over 1.8 million people have been impacted so far, and climate change is believed to be worsening the intensity of these disasters.

As of Sunday, 68 people remain missing, and over 100 are injured. The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA) has issued warnings for 56 out of Nepal's 77 districts, advising extreme caution. Experts note that the monsoon's destructive nature has worsened, with the region seeing higher-than-average rainfall and longer seasons. Nepal's mountainous terrain, combined with climate change, has led to increased vulnerability to landslides and floods, making recovery efforts even more challenging.