Nepal Faces Tragic Toll from Monsoon Disasters: Landslides, Floods, and Lightning Claim 14 Lives

Nepal is grappling with devastating monsoon-triggered disasters that have resulted in the tragic loss of at least 14 lives over the past 24 hours, including landslides, flash floods, and lightning strikes.

Reports from the news agency ANI indicate that landslides alone have claimed eight lives, while five people were fatally struck by lightning. One individual lost their life due to floodwaters caused by heavy rainfall.

In Lamjung district, located about 125 kilometers west of Kathmandu, landslides overnight swept away three houses, leading to four fatalities, including two children, confirmed district administrator Buddha Bahadur Gurung.

Dijan Bhattarai, spokesperson for Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), reported a total of 44 incidents on June 26 alone. These incidents resulted in 14 fatalities, with eight deaths from landslides, five from lightning strikes, and one due to flooding. Two individuals remain missing following a landslide, while ten others sustained injuries.

Since the beginning of the monsoon season, Nepal’s Home Ministry has recorded a total of 27 deaths across the country, including 13 fatalities from lightning strikes. Monsoon-related incidents have affected 33 districts, with a cumulative count of 147 rain-related incidents within just 17 days.

The annual monsoon season, lasting from mid-June to mid-September, brings severe flooding and landslides to Nepal’s mountainous regions, causing significant damage to infrastructure and communities and claiming numerous lives. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and providing assistance to affected areas.

This recent wave of disasters highlights Nepal’s continued vulnerability to natural calamities during the monsoon season, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced preparedness and response measures to mitigate their impact on lives and property.