Residents of Nepal’s flood-stricken capital began returning to their homes on Sunday to confront the aftermath of catastrophic flooding that has claimed the lives of at least 104 people nationwide.
According to the AFP, the deadly floods, caused by relentless monsoon rains, submerged entire neighborhoods in Kathmandu and triggered widespread destruction.
Monsoon rains, which typically impact South Asia from June to September, are known to cause deadly floods and landslides.
However, climate experts have warned that the frequency and intensity of such disasters are increasing due to climate change.
“This morning we returned, and everything looks different,” said Kumar Tamang, a resident of a slum near the riverbank in Kathmandu. He and his family were forced to flee in the middle of the night as water surged into their home.
“We couldn’t even open the doors to our house; they were jammed with mud,” Tamang added. “Yesterday, we were afraid the water would kill us, but today we have no water to clean with.”
The flooding caused major damage to homes and infrastructure, with reports of flash floods from rivers that flow through the capital. Key highways connecting Kathmandu to other parts of the country were blocked, further isolating the city.
Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that 104 people had died, with 64 still missing, and over 3,000 people have been rescued.
“Bulldozers are being used to clear several highways blocked by debris,” said ministry spokesperson Rishi Ram Tiwari.
He added that security personnel, including 3,000 rescue workers, were deployed with helicopters and motorboats to assist stranded residents. Despite their efforts, the damage was extensive.
Among the casualties were 14 passengers aboard two buses that were swept away by a landslide on a highway south of Kathmandu. Dhading district chief Rajendra Dev Pandey said the buses were buried under debris, leaving few survivors.
The Bagmati River, which runs through Kathmandu, overflowed its banks, flooding nearby communities and vehicles in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The country’s weather bureau reported that 240 millimeters of rain fell in the capital within a 24-hour period, the highest recorded rainfall since at least 1970.
Flights in and out of Kathmandu resumed by Sunday after weather conditions grounded more than 150 flights over the weekend.
Nepal, along with the rest of South Asia, relies heavily on monsoon rains for its annual water supply. However, the rains often lead to deadly floods and landslides. This year alone, more than 260 people have died in rain-related disasters across the country. Experts say climate change is exacerbating the severity of these events, with fatal floods and landslides becoming more frequent in recent years.
