Floods displace 3, 500 households in Jhapa

Floods triggered by torrential rainfall wreaked havoc in Jhapa this year.

More than 12,000 people from around 3,500 households have been displaced this year due to floods.

The Kankai Mai and Mechi rivers crossed the danger level on Saturday and Sunday.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the water level in the Kankai river had reached 5.61 meters.

Kankai river’s alert level is 3.8 meters and the danger level is 4.3 meters.

Lokraj Dhakal, President of Nepal Red Cross Society Jhapa, said that the water level of Kankai river had reached 5.4 meters in 2017, and this year it has exceeded that level, causing a huge damage.

Similarly, the water level of the Mechi river had reached 114.84 meters.

The alert level of the Mechi river is 113.8 meters and the danger level is 114.3 meters.

Hundreds of houses have been submerged as the floodwaters of the Kankai Mai gushed into the settlements.

More than 6,000 people from around 1,500 households in wards 1, 2 and 7 of Jhapa Rural Municipality have been displaced. They have been relocated to safer places.

DSP Khagendra Bahadur Khadka of the District Police Office, Jhapa, said that a person has been found dead so far.

 

Floods, landslides claim 18 lives in Ilam

 

At least 18 persons have died due to floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall in Ilam.

According to Deepak Pokharel, SSP and spokesperson at the Koshi Province Police Office, Biratnagar, five persons have died in Manebhangyang, Suryadaya Municipality-1, three in Patigaun, Mangsebung Rural Municipality-1, one in Dhare and two in Dhusune of Deumai Municipality-5.

Similarly, a person died in Ratamate, Phakphokathum Rural Municipality-4 and six in Ghosgaun, Ilam Municipality-5, police said.

SSP Pokharel said that Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Nepal Army personnel have been deployed in the flood and landslide affected areas.

The administration has been preparing to send relief materials to the affected areas.

 

Gamgadhi-Balai-Pina road obstructed for two months

Vehicular movement along the Gamgadhi-Balai-Pina roadway has come to a complete halt due to landslides and floods triggered by the rainfall for two months.

It has resulted in sheer inconvenience to the transportation and people's mobility.

Locals are compelled to use a long alternative route, carrying food grains and fetching medicines.

Local Dan Bahadur Shahi mentioned, "Landslides have occurred in most of the places along the roadway. No one has paid attention to resume the blocked road. Locals have been facing problems even in their daily mobility."

However, acting Mayor of Chhayanath Rara municipality, Aishwarya Malla, informed that the debris would be removed once the rainfall stops.

 

Syafrubesi -Rasuwgadhi road obstructed

A flood from the Lhende Stream along the Nepal-China border in Rasuwa district last night damaged the Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road, leading to a complete traffic disruption.

According to Chief District Officer of Rasuwa, Arjun Paudel, the flood triggered soil erosion to Timure Dry Port which had narrowly escaped the damages during the July 8 devastating flooding from the same stream. The traffic movement along the route has been completely halted following the recent disaster.

The CDO, who is also the Chair of the District Disaster Management Committee, said there are reports about the heavy rains towards the Chinese territory, raising concerns about the possibility of further floods. In the wake of the increased risk for further disasters, people residing near the river banks have been urged to move to safety.

However, the fresh flood caused no human casualties.  Likewise, authorities have issued alerts to the communities in the lower riparian areas along the Trishuli River, warning them of potential water level rises due to the Lhende Stream flood.

 

Floods, landslides completely obstruct 10 major highways

Ten highways of the country have been completely disrupted due to floods and landslides.

According to Nepal Police headquarters, the Koshi Highway in Sankhuwasabha, Mechi Highway in Phungthar, Pasang Lhamu Highway in Rasuwa, Kanti Lokpath (Highway) in Makawanpur, Darbang Road in Myagdi, East-West Highway in Nawalparasi, Bheri Corridor in Dolpa, Jajarkot-Dolpa-Bheri Corridor in Rukum West, and the Jay Prithvi Highway in Bajhang have been obstructed by the water-inducted disasters.  

Meanwhile, one way traffic has come into resumption along the Banepa-Nala-Bhaktapur, Kali Gandaki Corridor in Baglung, same section in Gulmi, and Shahid Highway in Rolpa which were disrupted due to floods and landslides.

 

Floods cause extensive damage in Rasuwa: Officials

Officials have said that the floods inflicted extensive damage in Rasuwa.

The details of the damage caused by the floods, however, are yet to come.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority spokesperson Suresh Sunar said that the initial report stated that 18 people are missing.

“Teams from all three security agencies have been mobilized to search the missing persons and rescue those trapped in the floods,” said Sunar.

“Miteri Bridge connecting Nepal and China in Rasuwagadhi has been washed away, and the Timure dry port and some hydropower plants have also been damaged,” he said.

According to Dhruba Prasad Adhikari, Assistant Chief District Officer of Rasuwa, the damage was caused by the flash flood triggered by incessant rainfall at around 3 am. Vehicles in the dry port were swept away. The drivers and assistant drivers of those vehicles were also caught in the flood.

Videos posted on social media also show vehicles being swept away in the floodwaters, people trapped in the floodwaters trying to escape by climbing trees, and Nepal Army helicopters rescuing them.

Kaisang Nurpu Tamang, Chairman of Gosainkunda Rural Municipality in Rasuwa, said that rescue and relief works have been affected as the floods and landslides obstructed roads in several places.

Police said that the landslides completely obstructed Syafrubeshi-Rasuwagadhi road section alson the Pasanglhamu Highway

Meanwhile, officials said that the damage caused by the floods in Rasuwa was not due to rain on Nepali territory.

Officials from the Disaster Management Authority and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology have initially estimated that there may have been heavy rain in neighboring China or that the dam may have burst, leading to the flood.

Disaster Management Authority spokesperson Suresh Sunar said that since there was no information about heavy rain in Nepal, something might have occurred in China.

Pratibha Manandhar, a senior meteorologist at the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology Weather Forecasting Division, said that there has not been enough rain to cause major flooding in Nepal.

"It appears that less than 30 millimeters of rain has occurred in the area in the past 24 hours," she said. "This much rain will not cause that much flooding." According to her, only light to moderate rain has occurred in Rasuwa and its neighboring districts.

Employees of the Flood Forecasting Division have also speculated that heavy rain may have occurred on the Chinese side or that a dam may have burst and the Bhotekoshi River may have flooded.

Home Ministry calls emergency meeting of NDRRMA Executive Committee

After the floods wreaked havoc in Rasuwa, an emergency meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority Executive Committee is to be held at the Home Ministry at 1 pm today.

The Home Ministry has said that an emergency meeting of the Central Security Committee and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority Executive Committee has been called to discuss the damage caused by the floods in Rasuwa.

Police have said that 16 people have gone missing and nine have been rescued after floods hit Bhotekoshi in Rasuwa on Tuesday morning.

The floods also washed away the Miteri Bridge that links the Nepal-China border.

At least 16 people have gone missing after being swept away by the floods.

According to Assistant Chief District Office Dhruva Prasad Adhikari, the missing include three Nepali policemen, three drivers, six Nepali workers, a driver and four Chinese workers.

He said that nine people trapped in the yard of the Rasuwagadhi Customs Office have been rescued.

The floods have also damaged infrastructure including charging stations along the border, the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, and also swept away cargo containers and electric vehicles at the customs yard.

Narayangarh-Butwal road section obstructed

Vehicular movement along the Narayangarh-Butwal road section has been obstructed after the floods swept away diversions at Chormara and Dumkibas areas in Nawalparasi (Bardhaghat Susta Purba) last night.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Yadav Dhakal said that the road section was obstructed after the floods washed away the diversions at Chormara and Dumkibas, causing a complete halt to the vehicular movement.

As a result, hundreds of vehicles have been stranded mid-way.

Currently, efforts are going on to construct an alternative route.

 

Floods sweep away more than 10 houses in Humla

More than 10 houses have been swept away by the floods triggered by incessant rains in Humla on Thursday.  

DSP Shankar Pokharel of the District Police Office, Humla confirmed that more than 10 houses were washed away by the floods.

Similarly, twenty-six goats have perished after mudslide triggered by heavy rain buried a goat shed at Adanchuli Rural Municipality-3 in Humla district today.

Of the 70 goats inside the shed of Aite Budha of Adanchuli-3, 26 were buried by flood and landslide. Budha said that 26 goats were killed as the goat shed collapsed due to the mudslide.

He said that 29 goats inside the shed were rescued with the help of locals. The remaining goats are missing and a search is on for the missing goats.

The torrential rain this morning has wreaked havoc at various places of the Adanchuli Rural Municipality.

Long road to recovery for landslide-hit settlement

The floods and landslides that struck in September 2024 have left a trail of devastation at Nabughat in Manthali Municipality, Ramechhap district, destroying farmland, vegetation, and the livelihoods of countless families. Among the hardest hit is Neeta Majhi, whose 15 ropani fields were completely washed away by the Sunkoshi flood. Neeta, who lives with her seven-member family, including four school-going children and elderly in-laws, now faces an uncertain future. With no food or income, she is forced to borrow money to buy rice and other essentials, leaving her anxious and overwhelmed. “I don’t know where to go or what to do to feed my family,” she says, her voice filled with despair.

Neeta’s plight is shared by approximately 50 families in the Jhurupp Majhi settlement, located in the southeastern corner of Manthali Municipality-6. The flood has left the community in ruins, with fields buried under sand and crops destroyed. “September 28 was a black day for Nabughat,” says Badri Bahadur Majhi, a local resident. “The flood buried everyone’s fields and crops. Now, all that remains is a vast expanse of sand. We can’t even tell where our land used to be.” Standing amidst the sandbanks, Badri gestures helplessly, trying to identify the boundaries of his lost farmland. “This is where my land used to lie,” he says, pointing to the heaps of sand around him. “But now, it’s all gone.”

The Sunkoshi flood has left behind deep ditches and towering sand dunes, rendering the once-fertile land unusable. Chakra Bahadur Majhi, another local, explains the challenges of reclaiming the land. “If we can clear the sand and prepare the land, we might be able to cultivate it again,” he says. However, the task is daunting. Unlike other areas where the Koshi River has receded, leaving behind cultivable land, Nabughat’s fields remain buried under layers of sand and debris. The community’s hopes are pinned on restoring the land to its former productivity, but progress has been slow.

Last year, locals successfully grew watermelons on the advice of agricultural technicians, and this year, they hope to do the same. “We’ll plant watermelons again,” says Chakra. “What else can we do? We just hope the land will be ready in time.” The community believes that beneath the nearly 500 ropanis of sand lies the fertile soil of their former farmland. In hopes of reclaiming it, they have appealed to Manthali Municipality for assistance. The municipality has allocated Rs 600,000 for sand removal and land restoration, but Ward Chairman Ashok Tamang admits it is insufficient. “The budget isn’t enough to clear the sand and restore the land,” he says. “We’re waiting for additional funds to start the work.”

The flood has also destroyed the irrigation infrastructure, compounding the challenges faced by the community. Wells, pipes, and cement-lined canals have been washed away, while electricity poles lie half-buried or broken. “First, we need to reclaim the land, then we can focus on rebuilding the irrigation system,” says Kale Majhi, a local elder and former public representative. “This is a disaster. The Koshi, which had never reached Nabughat before, has now devastated our village.” Kale, who has witnessed decades of change in the region, is deeply concerned about the future. “We’ve never faced anything like this,” he says. “The flood has taken everything from us.”

Four months after the flood, the community feels abandoned. “No one has come to help us,” laments Kale Majhi. Whenever outsiders visit the village, he hopes for relief, but so far, the community has received little support. “All we’ve gotten is a sack of rice,” he says. The lack of assistance has left the people of Nabughat feeling forgotten and hopeless. “We’ve lost our land, our crops, and our livelihoods,” says Neeta Majhi. “We don’t know how we’ll survive.”

The road to recovery is long and uncertain for the people of Nabughat. While the community remains resilient, the challenges they face are immense. Reclaiming the land, rebuilding infrastructure, and restoring livelihoods will require significant resources and support. For now, the Majhi community clings to hope, determined to rebuild their lives despite the odds. “We’ve faced hardships before, but this is the hardest,” says Badri Bahadur Majhi. “We’ll keep fighting, but we can’t do it alone. We need help.”

Germany pledges 100, 000 Euros to support communities affected by floods in Nepal

The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has pledged an assistance of 100,000 Euros to support communities impacted by the devastating floods of September 2024 in Nepal.

 Ambassador Dr. Thomas Prinz, the German Envoy to Nepal, on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, signed the grant agreement with One Heart Worldwide for a project titled “Emergency Response and Recovery Plan for Continuation of Maternal and NewbornHealth (MNH) Services in Flood-Affected Areas of Sarlahi, Rautahat and Kavrepalanchowk Districts,” that aims to provide vital healthcare services in the affected regions. Surya Bhatta, Co-CEO of One Heart Worldwide signed the agreement on behalf of the organization, reads a statement issued by the Embassy of Germany.

One Heart Worldwide is an organization dedicated to improving access to healthcare for mothers and newborns in remote areas of Nepal for over a decade. Through this project, One Heart Worldwide will focus on maintaining access to basic health services, ensuring water and sanitation facilities, and delivering emergency supplies to pregnant women, new mothers, and their families in the three most heavily affected districts from the recent floods and fire: Sarlahi, Rautahat, and Kavrepalanchowk.

Rautahat, one of Nepal’s poorest districts, is home to a significant Muslim and Dalit population, who have been disproportionately affected by recurring disasters. Frequent floods, fires, and cold waves have made survival increasingly difficult for vulnerable communities. The recent fires have affected 25 households, while 53 people are rendered homeless. Similarly, Sarlahi and Kavrepalanchowk were heavily affected during the recent floods caused by the incessant rains.

The project will provide affected individuals with Dignity Kits, Winterization Materials, Hygiene Kits, and Kitchen Utensils, as well as Health Facility Medical Equipment and Supplies, and establish WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) stations at healthcare facilities. The cold season is expected to have a particularly severe impact on pregnant women, new mothers, and young children.

“This is an important project for districts heavily affected by the recent disasters. With the harsh winter, we are relieved thatthe most vulnerable populations are receiving the support they urgently need,” said Ambassador Dr. Thomas Prinz, according to the statement.

“We are pleased to have signed this agreement with the German Embassy. This grant will provide critical assistance to mothers and newborns in these vulnerable communities, ultimately supporting the Government of Nepal’s ongoing efforts,” shared Mr. Surya Bhatta.

The project is slated to complete by June 2025.

Floods damage crops worth over Rs 340 million in Koshi Province

Flooding caused by incessant rains on September 27 and 28 has damaged crops worth more than Rs 340 million in Koshi Province.

The provincial government's Ministry of Industry, Agriculture and Cooperatives stated that the disaster destroyed crops worth Rs 344.58 million in the province.

According to the Ministry, the most damage was inflicted on the rice crop. Rice was cultivated on 275,267.98 hectares of land this year and the flooding and inundation damaged the crop worth Rs 176. 17 million cultivated on 5722.78 hectares, said Dr Deepa Diyali, Chief of the Food Security and Monitoring Division, Koshi Province.

She said the highest damage on rice crop was reported in Khotang district where the flood destroyed the crop on 3,739.3 hectares, followed by Sunsari in which crop cultivated on 824 hectares was damaged, Udayapur where floods destroyed crop in 398.78 hectares, Jhapa where crop on 287 hectares was washed away, Morang where rice cultivated on 244 hectares was destroyed, Bhojpur where crop on 113 hectares was damaged, Tehrathum where crops on 34.75 hectares was flooded and Solukhumbu where the rice crop on 11.2 hectares was damaged.

Likewise, vegetables worth Rs 11. 18 million cultivated on 414.80 hectares, millet worth Rs 37.1 million cultivated on 2357.50 hectares, fruits worth Rs 2. 77 million cultivated on 10.50 hectares and lentils worth Rs 4. 81 million cultivated on 58.60 hectares were damaged due to the flooding, according to the Ministry.

 

Five sections of different highways completely obstructed; one way traffic in eight roads

Five sections of different highways that were obstructed due to recent rain-induced floods and landslides are yet to be opened.

According to the Nepal Police sources, more than four dozen road sections blocked by floods and landslides have been opened and five roads are still completely obstructed.

Eight other road sections have been opened one-way; the police informed. Deputy Inspector General Dan Bahadur Karki, also the central spokesperson of Nepal Police, said efforts were underway to clear the blocked road.

As per their information, the Charshayabesi section of the BP Highway at Roshi in Kavrepalanchowk, which has been closed since September 27, has been completely halted.

The Bhakure of the same highway, Seleghat of Manthali Municipality-6 of Ramechhap, Ramechhap-Sindhuli-Khurkot of Bhotekoshi, Barhabise-Tatopani road of Bhotekoshi and Baluwatar section of Jaya Prithvi Highway of Bajhang have been completely blocked.

According to police, Lele-Tikabhairab of Godavari, Tinghare of Mid-Hill Highway of Tahrathum, Ramite of Mechi Highway at Panthar Phidim and Kanti Lokthap of Bhimphedi have been opened unilaterally.

The Kaldhunga section of the BP Highway at Roshi, Ghumaune, Hanumangadhi Keraghari section and the Benighat Krishnabhir section of the Prithvi Highway have also been opened one-way.

So far, 246 people have died in the disaster. 18 people are still missing.

The week that was

Dear readers,

I usually publish my newsletter every Friday. However, with the Dashain break approaching, I’m sharing this update midweek. While Dashain is here, many of us are not in a festive mood. The recent floods and landslides, which tragically claimed 246 lives and left others missing, have cast a shadow over the celebrations. In some areas, victims are still struggling to access basic daily essentials. Although people have started leaving Kathmandu to celebrate Dashain, many highways and roads remain in poor condition, contributing to accidents.

Reports indicate that the monsoon, which brings 80 percent of the country’s annual rainfall, is withdrawing. While heavy rains are unlikely, moderate to light rainfall may continue. These disasters have forced policymakers to reconsider the current development model.

On the political front, there have been no major developments. Former King Gyanendra Shah recently made an unofficial visit to Bhutan, receiving royal treatment, sparking speculation about its potential political impact. Royalist factions are celebrating, suggesting this could help build support for the monarchy’s return. However, major political leaders have yet to comment.

The implementation of recommendations from parliamentary probes into cooperatives has been slow, possibly due to the aftermath of the floods or a lack of political will. Rabi Lamichhane, leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, is facing protests from cooperative victims in his home district, Chitwan. Earlier concerns about his arrest have eased.

Meanwhile, Prakash Man Singh Raut has assumed office as the 32nd Chief Justice of Nepal. He faces the daunting task of restoring public trust in the judiciary, which has suffered in recent years. With a reputation for fairness and impartiality, legal experts believe his 18-month term could bring judicial independence. Born in Udayapur in 1961, Raut’s career includes being a Supreme Court Justice since 2016, a former advocate, and president of the Supreme Court Bar Association in 2006.

In environmental news, Nepal is set to receive payments for reducing carbon dioxide emissions through its forests in 13 Tarai districts. Between 2018 and 2024, the country is expected to receive $5 for every ton of carbon sequestered, totaling 2.4m tons under the Tarai Arc Landscape Program. This payment is due by October.

In international news, Israel recently held memorials marking one year since a Hamas-led raid, the deadliest attack in its history. The situation in the Middle East remains volatile, raising concerns for the safety of Nepali workers in Lebanon and Israel. Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has urged Nepal’s ambassadors to prepare for potential emergencies.

During the Dashain holiday, the print edition of The Annapurna Express will take a break, but we will continue to provide breaking news, analysis and updates on our online platform at theannapurnaexpress.com. Please visit our website for the latest updates.

One foreign national among 77 killed in Kavre flash floods

A total of 77 people including a foreign national have died and 75 people were injured in the recent flash floods in Kavre.

According to the District Police Office, five people are still missing.

The deceased include 33 women, 28 men, nine minor boys and seven minor girls.

Eighteen people including eight women lost their lives in Panauti Municipality while eight women, three men and one child died in Temal Rural Municipality.

Six women, two men, one boy and three girls died in Roshi Rural Municipality, eight men, three women and one child died in Bethanchowk while seven people including three women died in Mandandeupur.

Meanwhile, Assistant Chief District Officer Subas Paudel said that the search for the missing persons is underway while relief support is being provided to the affected families.

 

Rain-induced disaster claims 244 lives, 19 missing

The number of people who lost their lives in the recent monsoon-induced disaster has reached 244. Furthermore, 19 are still reported missing in the floods and landslides that occurred in the country last week.

A total of 179 people were injured in the incidents, said Rishiram Tiwari, spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs. In the post-disaster response initiative, 17,174 people have been rescued from the flood and landslides-affected areas so far.

Efforts are underway to mobilize relief support for the survivors and repair the highway and roads that have suffered damages, added Tiwari.

Likewise, after the details of flood survivors are received from the concerned local level, the financial aid for temporary housing will be distributed. Other kinds of support including food ration has been provided to the affected families from the local level itself, he said.

The government has provided financial support of Rs 200,000 to families who have lost a member in the disaster. So far, 160 families have received the assistance provided through the District Disaster Management Fund.