Submit your Article

Heavy rainfall in the past days has caused widespread flooding in Nepal, affecting thousands of children and their families, UNICEF has said. 

According to government estimates, around 224 people, including 35 children, have lost their lives, with many others injured or missing. Hundreds of houses have been damaged, displacing thousands of children and their families, leaving them vulnerable to the elements. In addition, landslides and rubble have blocked major roads and are hampering critical search and rescue efforts. The incessant rains, which lashed down non-stop since Sept 27, have been one of the heaviest rains Nepal has seen in the past few decades.

“On behalf of UNICEF Nepal, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones, including children. Children and young people desperately need support. In addition to losing their homes, we cannot underestimate the trauma children have endured and the mental health support they need. At times like this, girls and boys are ever more vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse,” said UNICEF Representative to Nepal Alice Akunga. “UNICEF is on the ground and working around the clock with the government and partners to reach the most affected children and their families with life-saving supplies and services.”

The impact on children is already being felt. An estimated 13 hospitals have been damaged and water supply has been widely affected threatening children’s health and nutrition. Damage to 54 schools has deprived over 10,000 girls and boys of a safe space to learn, play and heal.

UNICEF is working closely with the Government of Nepal and other humanitarian partners to assess the situation and provide urgent response. Pre-positioned supplies—including hygiene kits, bed nets, buckets, water purification tablets and tarpaulin sheets—have been dispatched to children and their families.

“I am deeply worried about the children who will sleep outside tonight and in the coming days; we must act quickly,” said Akunga. “In UNICEF, the Government of Nepal and local partners have a trusted agency that is ready to step-up and scale-up the emergency response for every child so that, together, we mitigate the impact of this terrible weather event.”

Nepal's economic growth is projected to accelerate to 5.1 percent in FY 25 from 3.9 percent in FY 24, driven by anticipated high tourist arrivals, along with increased hydropower and paddy production, according to the World Bank’s latest economic update, Nepal Development Update: International Migration and Well-being in Nepal, released today.

The private sector is expected to contribute to the country’s growth, as it is anticipated to benefit from the central bank’s loosening of monetary policy and easing of regulatory requirements. Nepal’s economy is projected to grow by 5.5 percent in FY26.

However, the report identifies multiple risks to the outlook, including heightened vulnerabilities in the financial system such as a rise in non-performing loans that may limit private sector credit growth, potential policy discontinuity that could deter investment, delays in the execution of the capital spending budget affecting infrastructure development, and regional instability and trade disruptions that could reduce tourism and domestic demand.

"Nepal's economy is on a gradual recovery path," said Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission Prof. Dr. Shiva Raj Adhikari. "Our focus on enhancing capital expenditure, particularly by completing nearly finished projects, along with reforms in the budgetary process, will strengthen macroeconomic stability, boost domestic productivity, and create more jobs."

Shocks in migrant-receiving countries such as the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Malaysia, could also slow growth, impacting international remittances that are crucial for raising household consumption, reducing poverty, and developing human capital. However, migration from Nepal is costly, opportunities are unequal, and the process remains challenging for many. The report presents the latest evidence on the benefits and costs of Nepal’s emigration trend and highlights key policy interventions needed to build an inclusive migration management system aimed at ensuring sustainability and maximizing rewards, press release reads.

“Maintaining growth momentum is key to Nepal’s development. This requires continued reform in critical areas such as infrastructure, governance, human capital development, and developing an environment which encourages and supports the private sector,” said David Sislen, World Bank Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. “Nepal has greatly benefited from remittances from overseas workers and improving the management of these inflows, better supporting Nepalis who choose to seek work abroad, and also building a vibrant domestic economy which allows for skilled Nepalis to be productive in Nepal is critical to the future of the country.”

According to press release, an inclusive migration management system would establish a transparent recruitment process, better prepare migrants to go abroad, ensure the safety and mobility of migrants in those labor markets, plan for long-term skills and destination diversification, and create an economic environment conducive to harnessing the capital and skills of returnees.

The Nepal Development Update, produced biannually, provides an in-depth analysis of significant economic developments over the past year, contextualizing them within a longer-term and global perspective.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli acknowledged that the government was not adequately prepared for the devastating floods and landslides that struck Nepal on Sept 27 and 28. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Oli stated that the scale of the disaster had exceeded expectations.

“We were not prepared for this kind of situation,” he admitted. “We did not expect that there would be this kind of rain, landslides, and such extensive human and physical damage.”

The Prime Minister explained that preparations had been made based on forecasts from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, which had predicted heavy rain, but the intensity and impact of the disaster were far beyond previous experiences.

Oli was in New York attending the United Nations General Assembly when the disaster occurred and returned to Nepal on Monday. He emphasized that despite being abroad, he was closely monitoring the situation. “Even though I was outside the country, I was aware of the situation here. I also did not expect that it would be this severe,” he said.

The Prime Minister assured the public that the government has done its best to provide relief and carry out rescue operations. “It’s not that nothing was done, the government did its best,” Oli said, while acknowledging potential shortcomings. “There may have been some weaknesses, but giving priority to one area may have delayed efforts in others.”

He praised the efforts of security personnel, stating that over 4,000 people had been rescued.

With the immediate focus on rescue and relief, Oli called for unity in facing the crisis. “This is the time to focus on rescue, relief, and reconstruction for the pain the people are going through,” he said. “This is a common national pain, and we must face this disaster together.”

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, 224 people have lost their lives, 24 are missing, and 158 have been injured in the floods and landslides, which affected 21 districts, including Kavre, Lalitpur, Dhading, Kathmandu, Sindhupalchowk, Sindhuli, and Makawanpur. The estimated damage to infrastructure, including drinking water, roads, energy, irrigation, and livestock, amounts to Rs 17bn.

Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal provided further updates, noting that agricultural crops have also been severely affected. The government plans to complete the search and rescue operations within two days and distribute relief through a one-door system. Temporary housing will be provided for the homeless, and efforts are underway to reopen blocked highways.

The government has urged all sectors to come together to ensure swift recovery and reconstruction efforts.

As many as 228 people have lost their lives while 25 others are still missing in the recent rain-induced floods and landslides. Another 158 people have sustained injuries.

According to Home Ministry spokesperson Rishiram Tiwari, so far 13,071 people have been rescued from the flood-affected areas and search, rescue and relief assistance has been mobilized.

Relief materials, including food are being distributed to the affected people and the injured are being treated free of cost.

Spokesperson Tiwari said that the government has accorded high priority to the rescue and relief, and put up all-out efforts to resume the operation of the obstructed highway.  

This year's recent floods and landslides have taken a huge toll on the production of electricity. At least 1,100-MW hydroelectricity has been thrown out of the systems with the obstruction to its production and transmission.

The transmission line and distribution systems of hydropower projects have become complicated. The capacity of the stalled projects is estimated to be equivalent to 650 MW.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NRA) said it would be difficult to meet the demand as most of the power stations were closed in the disaster-triggered emergency.

According to preliminary reports of the Ministry of Energy, the incessant rain induced floods and landslides have damaged 36 projects having power generation capacity of 1,100 MW.

The Kabeli Corridor projects, which meet the energy demand of eastern Nepal, have been damaged in the calamitous incidents of floods and landslides. Around 200 MW of electricity has been thrown out of the systems after damages caused to three towers of the transmission line.

Similarly, a tower of Khimti Lamosanghu transmission line, which supplies electricity from the Tamakoshi Corridor to Kathmandu, has been washed away by the Tamakoshi River. Electricity worth 200 MW has gone out of the systems due to complications in the transmission line.

Khimti Dhalkebar has generated a 220 KV tower. Similarly, the tower of Bardaghat-Sardi 132 KV double circuit transmission line collapsed due to incessant rain.

According to the NEA, the tower of the transmission line collapsed with the collapse of the road at Bardaghat Municipality-5, Khursani Khola in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West) along the East-West Highway.

The power supply of Hongshi Shivam Cement, which is operating at Sardi in Binayi Triveni Rural Municipality of Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) in partnership with Chinese and Nepali investors, has been closed since Monday evening after the tower collapsed.

When a hydropower project is closed, it does not have an impact elsewhere, but when there is a problem in a tower, it has a wider impact.

Managing Director of NEA Kulman Ghising said it would be a big challenge to manage the demand due to obstruction caused to electricity supply.

Due to the damage to the access road, there is a problem in transporting construction materials. This year's flood has caused a huge toll on roads and bridges.

This also prolongs the time of the project's maintenance and construction. Electricity would not be available within the stipulated time as per the agreement with NEA.

Energy Minister Deepak Khadka said necessary decisions would be taken after holding discussions with the Ministry of Finance on reconstruction, construction of access roads and insurance. The country's energy sector has been facing a huge blow for the last few years due to floods, landslides and rains.

More than a dozen substations and other physical structures of NEA were damaged due to incessant rainfall in 2074 BS. Similarly, floods and landslides in June 2078 BS had damaged one and a half dozen projects. The 44 MW Super Madi, which is under construction in Kaski, suffered a loss of around Rs 1 billion. The floods of Modi River had washed away equipment including dam site, power house, workers' housing house, loader excavator, penstock pipe and cocker plant.

That year's flood had caused trouble in the Super Dordi hydropower project. The floods had also entered from the tailrace of Rasuwagadhi. The floods had wreaked havoc in Melamchi in the same year.

Although the hydropower projects have insurance, they have been facing problems in getting payment. Last year alone, the insurance claim payment amounted to Rs 7 billion. This year too, the liability is likely to go up.

Experts recommended improving the system and working style of pre-project studies, design and pre-construction forecasting systems to address the problems caused by floods and landslides in the energy sector.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the distribution of relief support to the people hit hard by floods, landslides and inundation following incessant rain has already started.

At a press conference organized at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar today, he said the search and rescue of the citizens in the disaster would be completed within the next two days.

Prime Minister Oli made it clear that necessary arrangements have been put in place for free treatment to the injured and to prevent and control the public health problems that may arise after the disaster.

The government was proactive in operating basic services including water supply, roads, telephone and electricity, he claimed.

According to information shared on the occasion, so far 224 people have lost their lives, 24 are still missing and 158 have been injured due to the disaster while 4,331 people who are at high risk have been rescued and shifted to safer places.

Kavrepalanchowk, Lalitpur, Dhading, Kathmandu, Sindhupalchowk, Sindhuli and Makawanpur are among the 21 districts most affected by the disaster.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has appealed to all to help the people suffering due to floods, landslides and inundation, by considering it as the pain of the nation.

At a press conference held today at the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar, Prime Minister Oli urged one and all to support the search, rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts underway across the country. "This pain is not only the government's concern, but the whole society's pain. We are all saddened by the disaster," Prime Minister Oli said.

"Damage has also occurred due to some structural shortcomings. In the future, when the structures are built it will be made as such to withstand disasters and stronger in the long-term," he noted.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Oli expressed his commitment to correct shortcomings, if any, in the rescue and search operations due to the large-scale disaster that the government had not anticipated and hence not prepared for. He emphasized that the state and the society should make maximum use of the available resources to address the current adverse situation in the country.

The Merchant Bankers Association of Nepal (MBAN) successfully held its 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sept 30, in Naxal, Kathmandu, where its 6th Executive Committee was elected. The newly appointed leadership team includes Ramendra Rayamajhi from NIC Asia Capital Limited as Chairperson, Manis Narayan Joshi from Nabil Investment Bank Limited as Vice-chairperson, Nirmal Bhattarai from Garima Capital Limited as General Secretary, and Shivanth B Pande from NIMB Ace Capital Limited as Treasurer. Additionally, Sandip Karki from Siddhartha Capital Limited, Lekhnath Pokhrel from Nepal SBI Merchant Banking Limited, and Pushpa Sharma from Kumari Capital Limited were elected as committee members. 

The election process was carried out in a positive and collaborative environment, reflecting the association’s commitment to a shared vision for the future of merchant banking in Nepal. The new executive team has pledged to work on improving capital market accessibility, promoting sustainable financial practices, and strengthening relationships with regulatory bodies to foster the growth of Nepal’s financial sector.