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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his sorrow over the destruction inflicted by floods and landslides in Nepal.

Today, through the social media platform X, the prime minister paid tribute to those who lost their lives in these tragic events and offered heartfelt condolences to their families.

He stated, 'In this difficult time, the Government of Pakistan and its people stand in solidarity with the Government of Nepal and the Nepali people.'

At least 555 people, who were stranded in various parts of Koshi Province affected by floods and landslides following incessant rainfall, have been rescued safely.

According to SSP Deepak Pokharel, spokesperson at the Koshi Province Police Office, Biratnagar, they were rescued with the joint efforts of the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police personnel and local volunteers.

Among them, Nepal Army rescued 23 people from highly risky areas through choppers while the remaining 532 people were taken to safer places via land routes.

Police said that 16 people were rescued from Jhapa Rural Municipality and are being kept in a safer place.

Similarly, three injured persons were rescued from Mangsebung Rural Municipality-1 in Ilam and have been taken to the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan for treatment.

Likewise, four injured people were rescued from Sandakpur Rural Municipality-4 Mabu in Ilam and have been sent to B&C Hospital in Jhapa for treatment, said SSP Pokharel.

So far, 44 people have been confirmed dead in various districts of Koshi Province due to floods and landslides.

As many as 37 people lost their lives in Ilam alone.

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.

Five major highways have been completely blocked for traffic due to floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains in various parts of the country. 

According to the information provided by the Nepal Police Headquarters, the Koshi Highway in Bhotkhola Rural Municipality-4 and in Makalu Rural Municipality-3 of Sankhuwasabha has been completely blocked due to landslides.

Similarly, the Muglin-Narayanghat road section in Ichchakamana Rural Municipality-5 of Chitwan, and the Mid-Hill Highway in Bhume Rural Municipality-4 of Rukum East have been completely blocked, informed Central Police Spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General of Police Binod Ghimire.

According to him, the East-West Highway in Nawalparasi East, the Kaligandaki Corridor in Baglung, and the Trishuli-Mailung Road in Rasuwa are open for one-way traffic only.

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.

Vehicular movement along the Kaligandaki road has been obstructed due to landslides at Gargare and Mulk in Kaligandaki Rural Municipality on Thursday.

Security personnel from the Purtighat Police Post have been mobilized to clear the debris, said Ganga Bahadur Saru, Information Officer at the District Police Office.

The Narayangadh-Butwal road section along the East-West Highway has been obstructed after a landslide swept away some sections of the road this morning.

The landslide triggered by heavy rain washed away some sections of the road at Bardhaghat-4 nearby Daunne, police said.

DSP and Information Officer at the District Police Office, Nawalparasi, Bir Dutta Panta shared that a freight vehicle heading towards west has stranded in the middle of the road following the landslide.

The goods-carrying truck has also been buried by landslide debris to some extent, said DSP Panta, adding that efforts are underway to remove the truck as well as the debris as the rain has stopped.

Meanwhile, various places along the Siddhartha Highway have been obstructed due to landslides, police added.  The rain-triggered landslides have blocked roads at Burtang-Siddhababa and other areas too.

The local authority has urged the travelers to take precaution and remain alert.

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.”

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.

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.

The government’s disaster response efforts to the recent floods and landslides that swept across Nepal proved woefully short. The tragic loss of 233 lives, with 22 still missing, paints a grim picture of the magnitude of the catastrophe triggered by heavy rainfall. The government's sluggish and inadequate response compounded this natural disaster into a crisis of governance.

Close to the Capital, a family of four was swept away by a rain-swollen Nakkhu river while waiting for hours for help to arrive. As many as 35 people were crushed inside their vehicles when landslide debris fell on them while waiting for the road to clear, a mere few kilometers before reaching the Nagdhunga entry point to the Kathmandu Valley. The bodies could be recovered only after two days. In Timal village in adjoining Kavre, it took three days for authorities to start the search for people buried under the debris. These incidents show this is not merely nature's wrath but a damning indictment of our disaster preparedness and response mechanisms.

Though the Weather Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology had forecast heavy rainfall, the authorities did not take any proactive measures. No effort was made to relocate people living on river banks to higher grounds. As a result the capital city, supposedly the nation's most developed area, crumbled under three days of incessant rains. Hundreds of people were displaced in the capital alone as houses near riverbanks were waterlogged, exposing deep-rooted issues in our urban planning and infrastructure development. This is not a new problem though. Successive governments have failed to address it comprehensively. 

The economic toll of this disaster is mounting with preliminary studies estimating losses at over Rs 18bn. Agriculture, one of the largest contributors to gross domestic production (GDP), was among the worst-hit with crops ready for harvest destroyed by floods and landslides. Roads have been washed away at multiple locations. As we approach Dashain, a time for family reunions, the government faces the daunting task of restoring connectivity and ensuring a safe passage for millions of people. The immediate need is for efficient rescue and relief operations, followed by swift infrastructure restoration. 

Transfer of officials for their alleged failure to effectively respond to the crisis alone is not sufficient. The country needs a paradigm shift in disaster management. The government must invest in robust early warning systems, strengthen emergency response capabilities, implement stricter building codes and urban planning regulations, and train its employees on disaster preparedness. We must prepare well as climate change is certain to exacerbate such extreme weather events in the coming days.

The death toll from the recent flooding and landslides has reached 239 while 19 others are missing as of Thursday evening, the Ministry of Home Affairs said.

Likewise, as many as 177 people are injured in the monsoon-induced disasters, Ministry's Spokesperson Rishiram Tiwari shared.

According to Tiwari, so far 17,131 people have been rescued from flood and landslide-affected areas

Likewise, the government has given top priority to rescue and relief operations and efforts are going on to resume vehicular movement by carrying out maintenance works on the highways that suffered damages in the recent incidents of flooding, inundation and landslides.

The highways and road networks in Bagmati Province have witnessed serious damages in the disasters, authorities said.

The government has reported that the floods and landslides triggered by heaving rainfall last week caused damages worth more than Rs 17bn.

According to the preliminary damage assessment report prepared by the government, the disaster incidents caused damage of more than Rs 6bn to the agriculture sector alone. The report states that paddy crops alone suffered damages worth Rs 3.5bn. Floods and landslides affected paddy crops on 58,476 hectares in Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Nawalparasi East, Baglung, Khotang, Jhapa, Kailali, Lamjung, Parvat, Kaski, Syangja, Makwanpur, Kavre and Sindhuli.

Likewise, floodwaters caused damages worth Rs 1.13bn to fisheries on 458 hectares in Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara and Parsa. Similarly, sugarcane crops on 85 hectares worth Rs 340m were destroyed by the floods. Additionally, 24 animal sheds were damaged in Panchthar, Dhankuta, and Terhathum, while floods and landslides claimed a total of 26,205 livestock in Panchthar, Ilam, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Lalitpur and all districts of Madhes.

According to the report, floods and landslides destroyed orchards on 22 hectares in Kaski, Nawalparasi East, Kanchanpur and Rautahat, as well as vegetables on 4,743 hectares in Khotang, Makwanpur, Chitwan, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Bara and Parsa. Office infrastructure sustained damages amounting to Rs 160m across various districts, according to the agriculture ministry.

Likewise, there have been significant damages to energy, drinking water, road and irrigation infrastructure. The energy sector has suffered damages worth around Rs 4bn. As many as 16 hydropower projects with an installed capacity of 667.93 MW suffered damages due to floods and landslides, while 18 under-construction projects with total capacity of 1139.19 MW suffered damages. Projects like Upper Tamakoshi (456 MW), Mandu Hydropower (22 MW), two projects on Hewa Khola with combined capacity of 36.9 MW and Solu Dudhkoshi (86 MW), among others, suffered significant damages. Similarly, five major transmission towers have suffered damages.

Likewise, state-owned Nepal Telecom has reported damage at 312 sites. 

“Although the agricultural sector is estimated to have suffered the most damage, the details of the damage to agricultural crops will be prepared within one month,” said Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal. “A total of 21 districts have been affected by floods and landslides. Of them, Kavre, Lalitpur, Dhading, Kathmandu, Sindhupalchok, Sindhuli and Makwanpur have been affected the most.”

Aryal said that temporary housing will be arranged for people displaced by disaster incidents. 

According to him, families, who have lost their homes in the disaster, will be immediately identified as beneficiaries and grant amounts will be distributed for temporary housing construction. The families will be provided with Rs 25,000 each as the first installment of housing grant, according to Aryal.

“Obstructed strategic roads across the country will be reopened with increased urgency. We will install Bailey bridges on important roads where bridges have been washed away by floods and landslides,” he added.

Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall last weekend have claimed 224 lives, while 24 are missing and 158 people have been injured.

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.”

The death toll in the rain-induced disasters like landslides and floods triggered by incessant rainfall has reached 217, while the number of those gone missing stands at 28.

It is the latest update shared by Spokesperson at Home Ministry, Rishiram Tiwari. In the natural disasters, 143 persons were injured.

All security agencies have been mobilized for all-out efforts of search, rescue and relief distribution, he added. The injured ones are receiving treatment at various health facilities.

Similarly, those affected by the floods and landslides are provided with instant relief materials.

The government has given priority to search, rescue and relief distribution. The efforts to resume the blocked roadways are also going on, Tiwari shared.

Different parts of Nepal have experienced devastating floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains in the past few months. Floods and landslides in the past few days have claimed many lives across the country, including in the Kathmandu Valley and the vicinity, displaced thousands of citizens and destroyed property/infrastructure worth billions of rupees like roads, complicating rescue efforts. The valley, a symbol of culture and natural beauty, now serves as a reminder of Nepal’s vulnerability to extreme weather events and natural disasters.

Nepal’s geography, home to the world’s highest peaks, also makes it prone to natural disasters such as floods and landslides. According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2021, Nepal is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Around 80 percent of Nepal’s population is at risk of climate-induced hazards, as factors like melting glaciers and poor land management exacerbate these calamities. While the physical destruction is visible, the emotional and mental toll often goes unnoticed.

A mental health crisis

The human cost of disasters like the recent floods and landslides goes beyond the immediate loss of life and property. As survivors grapple with the destruction of their homes, the deaths of loved ones and displacement, many experience severe emotional and psychological distress. Grief, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are some of the mental health challenges that emerge in the aftermath of such disasters.

Impact on mental health

The short-term consequences of the ongoing disaster are evident—loss of life, destruction of homes, and thousands of displaced families. But as the immediate shock subsides, the long-term effects, especially on mental health, begin to surface. Individuals who endure repeated trauma from these disasters are at higher risk of chronic anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. Without adequate support, the trauma can result in lifelong emotional damage.

The absence of a comprehensive mental health policy in Nepal exacerbates the problem. Despite a growing mental health crisis, access to professional therapy and support is scarce, particularly in rural areas. Nepal faces a shortage of trained mental health professionals, and stigma around seeking psychological help remains prevalent.

Responding to the crisis

Amid the ongoing disaster response, mental health support must be given due priority. Mental health workers have been working at displaced sites, offering psychological first aid, group counseling sessions and therapies like trauma-focused therapy to help survivors cope with the crisis. Therapists are using techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and individual therapy, which are useful in addressing their specific needs.

However, with limited resources, these efforts fall short of reaching everyone in need. The government, NGOs and international organizations must work together to integrate mental health services into disaster response programs. Public awareness campaigns are essential to challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness and encourage those affected to seek help.

Building resilience

While Nepal continues to contend with the ongoing floods and landslides, the country must also prepare for future disasters. Strengthening infrastructure, improving early warning systems and promoting sustainable land management are crucial steps toward reducing the impact of natural disasters. But equally important is addressing the mental health toll that these events leave in their wake.

To help the Nepali community heal both physically and mentally, it is crucial to encourage open dialogue about mental health and ensure access to necessary resources. Early intervention, community support and trauma-focused care can pave the way toward recovery and resilience.

The author is a psychiatrist