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Continuous rainfall has caused water levels in rivers and streams across the Kathmandu Valley to rise. Rivers and streams including Bagmati, Hanumante, Manohara, Dhobikhola, Bishnumati, Nakhu, and Balkhu have seen an increase in water levels.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has warned that floodwaters may reach roadside areas and inundate nearby settlements, urging people to avoid traveling along riverbanks.

The department also reported that heavy rain with thunder and lightning is currently affecting most areas from eastern parts of Gandaki Province to Koshi Province.

Districts including Sunsari, Udayapur, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Sindhuli, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Sindhupalchok, Kavrepalanchok, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Makwanpur, Chitwan, and surrounding areas are forecasted to face an extremely high risk of flooding.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in various parts of the country from 8 pm Saturday to 8 am Sunday and has urged the public to remain cautious.

During a discussion on the monsoon situation and preparedness chaired by Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development, Kulman Ghising, the department’s Director General Kamal Ram Joshi said that special precautions are necessary as very heavy rainfall is likely.

Joshi stated that Bagmati, Madhes, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces are particularly at risk and urged residents living near rivers and streams in these regions to remain alert.

“There is a possibility of more than 200 millimeters of rainfall between 10 pm Saturday and 2 am Sunday in these provinces, so high caution is necessary,” Joshi said, advising the public to avoid unnecessary travel during this period.

According to the department, the monsoon is currently active across the country due to moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal.

Multiple highways across Nepal have been obstructed due to continuous rainfall, floods, and landslides, according to the Nepal Police. As of Friday 11:50 am, several key road sections remain fully or partially blocked, halting vehicular movement.

In Kathmandu Valley, continuous rainfall has caused flooding in Chandragiri Municipality, obstructing traffic heading from Kalanki toward Dharke and Makwanpur. Vehicles have been stopped in both directions.

In Koshi Province, the Koshi Highway has been completely blocked in two locations — at Bhotkhola Rural Municipality-4 in Sankhuwasabha and at Makalu Rural Municipality-3.

In Bagmati Province, several roads remain obstructed. In Rasuwa, flooding at Gosaikunda Rural Municipality-2 has completely blocked the road connecting Nepal to the Chinese border.

Landslides in Gosaikunda Rural Municipality (at three points) have obstructed the Pasang Lhamu Highway.

A landslide at Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-4 (Chaku Bhir) in Sindhupalchok has fully blocked the Araniko Highway.

Another landslide at Khandichaur (Jugal Rural Municipality-8) has caused a partial obstruction on the Araniko Highway.

In Kavrepalanchok, a landslide at Roshi Rural Municipality-11 (Manebhanjyang) has completely blocked the BP Highway.

Additionally, flooding and waterlogging at several points between Dolalghat and Khadichaur in Sindhupalchok have caused traffic disruptions, with vehicles stopped in both directions.

Authorities have urged travelers to take precautions, avoid unnecessary travel in affected areas, and follow official updates on road conditions.

A police constable was found dead in Doti district on Friday midnight.

According to the District Police Office, Doti, Shankar Balayar, a resident of Shikhar Municipality-8 Tilatali and a serving constable in the Nepal Police, was discovered lifeless at Gopghat along the KI Singh Highway around 12:15 am after police received information about a person lying on the road.

Police said Balayar had sustained a serious head injury. The cause of death is under investigation.

Balayar, who was currently posted at the District Traffic Police Office, Rautahat, under the Highway Safety and Traffic Management Office, Pathlaiya, Bara, was on an 18-day leave starting from Sept 23.

Following the incident, locals blocked vehicular movement along the highway, demanding a fair investigation into the case and action against the culprit.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has warned that 20 districts across the country face a very high risk of flooding due to continuous heavy rainfall.

Currently, rainfall is occurring in Bagmati, Madhes, Koshi, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces, with Madhes experiencing particularly heavy downpours. Rainfall is also intensifying in the Kathmandu Valley, according to the department.

The Flood Forecasting Division said that on Saturday, districts including Sunsari, Udaypur, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Sindhuli, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Sindhupalchok, Kavrepalanchok, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Makwanpur, and Chitwan are at very high risk of floods.

Similarly, Ilam, Jhapa, Morang, Dhankuta, Tehrathum, Panchthar, Bhojpur, Khotang, Okhaldhunga, Solukhumbu, Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Nawalparasi East, Nawalparasi West, Rupandehi, and Kapilvastu have been identified as high-risk districts.

In addition, smaller rivers in Kaski, Lamjung, Parbat, Syangja, Tanahun, Gulmi, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Pyuthan, Dang, Banke, and Bardiya are expected to swell significantly, with a high possibility of flash floods. The authorities have urged residents of riverbank areas in these regions to remain on high alert and adopt safety measures.

Traffic movement along the Dhulikhel–Khawa section of the Araniko Highway has been obstructed due to a landslide.

According to the District Police Office, Kavre, continuous rainfall since last night triggered rockfall from the roadside cliffs at Tiritire Dhara in Dhulikhel-8, blocking the highway.

Vehicles traveling through the Araniko Highway have been halted at Dhulikhel and Panchkhal, police said.

A landslide triggered by continuous rainfall caused part of the road to collapse along the Karkhusi River in Kathmandu Metropolitan City-14 on Saturday morning.

According to officials, the incident occurred around 9 am near Kohinoor Housing after the retaining wall along the riverbank gave way, leading to erosion. Authorities warned that nearby houses are now at risk due to the road subsidence.

The Metropolitan Police Force and the Disaster Management Department are working to prevent further erosion. Kathmandu Metropolitan City said preparations are in place to relocate residents to a nearby school if flooding causes problems in the settlement.

The metropolis has urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert.

US President Donald Trump on Friday ordered Israel to stop bombing the Gaza Strip after Hamas said it had accepted some elements of his plan to end the nearly two-year war and return all the remaining hostages taken in the 7 Oct 2023, attack.

Hamas said it was willing to release the hostages and hand over power to other Palestinians, but that other aspects of the plan require further consultations among Palestinians. Senior Hamas officials suggested there were still major disagreements that required further negotiations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was prepared for the implementation of the “first stage” of Trump’s plan, apparently referring to the release of hostages. But his office said in a statement that Israel was committed to ending the war based on principles it has set out before, without addressing potential gaps with Hamas.

AP