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Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak directed all the authorities concerned and relevant mechanisms to remain highly alert and do the needful preparations as heavy rainfall is expected in some places of the Koshi and Bagmati Provinces.

The instruction comes in response to the weather forecast bulletin released by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology regarding the probabilities of downpour in some parts of these two provinces.

Minister Lekhak called on all three security agencies, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Chief District Officers and local governments for caution towards possible risks of disasters.

The Department has appealed to the public for alertness and readiness to mitigate the potential risks of the predicted rainfall and its consequences.

Emphasizing alertness and readiness in this context, Minister Lekhak said, "I have directed the Chief District Officers of Koshi Province and Bagmati Province and Chiefs of all security agencies in the disaster-prone provinces to remain alert."

Furthermore, the NDRRMA and Chiefs of security agencies under the Ministry of Home Affairs have been asked to coordinate efforts for early preparedness.

Minister Lekhak urged travelers to be careful while traveling, noting the conditions of major highways and roads due to recent series of rain-triggers landslide and flood while the risk of floods and landslides still persist in some parts.

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.

The 79th United Nations General Assembly provided an opportunity for Nepal and the United States to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues. On the sidelines of the meeting, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba engaged in talks with senior US officials.

During a ceremony at the State Department, Nepal and the US agreed to establish a bilateral consultation mechanism. Foreign Minister Deuba and US Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs, John Bass, signed the agreement, with senior officials from both sides in attendance. Nepal has similar mechanisms in place with several other countries.

After the meeting, Foreign Minister Deuba said, “A historic milestone in Nepal-US relations has been achieved with the signing of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).” She added the agreement would promote deeper cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, tourism and infrastructure, thereby laying a stronger foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Oli and Foreign Minister Rana also met with Alice P Albright, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), to discuss the progress of MCC projects in Nepal. The US has encouraged Nepal to foster a favorable environment for smooth implementation of the MCC. Thirteen months have passed since the MCC came into effect, and its projects are supposed to be completed within four years. Recent progress at the local level has been positive, which is a good thing. Senior MCC officials have been consistently engaging with Nepal’s top leaders to ensure there are no obstacles to the project's implementation.

Additionally, Foreign Minister Deuba met with Uzra Zeya, US Undersecretary of State for Civil Security, Democracy and Human Rights, to discuss Nepal’s transitional justice issues, human rights and democracy. Zeya, who visited Nepal in 2022, has long advocated for the human rights of Tibetan refugees in Nepal. The US has requested that Nepal resume the process of issuing identity cards to these refugees.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power also met with Prime Minister Oli to discuss the enduring partnership between USAID and Nepal. Power welcomed Nepal’s recent passage of transitional justice legislation and its participation as a founding member of the “Partnership for a Lead-Free Future.” The two sides also discussed ongoing support for Nepal’s development efforts, focusing on health, agriculture, economic growth, and improving public service delivery.

Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Richard Verma, visited Nepal, where he met with Prime Minister Oli and other senior leaders. Verma expressed the US intention to provide $100m in Foreign Military Financing to enhance Nepal’s rotary wing capabilities, pending Congressional approval and the availability of funds. The discussions also included continued cooperation on sustainable economic development, particularly through the MCC, which aims to increase access to clean energy, as well as a USAID-funded project to promote Nepal’s tea industry through the Nepal Tea Collective.

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.