KATHMANDU — Heavy rains have unleashed devastating floods and landslides across Nepal, killing at least 10 people and leaving seven others missing in the last 24 hours. Authorities have reported swollen rivers, disrupted transport, and blocked roads due to landslides, with police working to clear debris from highways at 28 locations.
The prolonged monsoon, which was delayed by nearly a week this year, has brought torrential downpours across South Asia. The Nepalese weather office predicts that the rains will persist until Sunday, as a low-pressure system over parts of neighboring India contributes to the extended wet conditions.
Central and eastern Nepal have experienced significant rainfall, with some areas recording more than 200 mm (8 inches) of rain. The Koshi River, a major waterway in southeastern Nepal, is running dangerously high, posing a serious risk to both Nepal and neighboring India’s state of Bihar, which often suffers deadly floods due to the river.
While international flights continue to operate from Kathmandu, many domestic flights have been disrupted, and roads and homes in the capital have been flooded. Monsoon-related landslides and flash floods are common in Nepal’s mountainous terrain, causing hundreds of deaths each year.