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Landslides and floods triggered by incessant rains in the past two days damaged various 16 hydropower projects.

According to the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal (IPPAN), floods inflicted damages on powerhouses, transmission lines, and other structures.

The details of the loss are being collected and it may go up.

The dam site and a pond to filter sand of the Upper Tamakoshi Project have been damaged. The Project is being developed by the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project Limited, an auxiliary company of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

Four people, including security personnel and two workers, have gone missing in the landslide that struck the Project structure on Saturday late morning, according to Company CEO Mohan Prasad Gautam.

The production from a 456-megawatt project has been disrupted, causing issues in the overall power supply system. 

The NEA said that it has been trying to fix issues in the power distribution due to the damage to power production centers. It said it has disrupted the power supplies of 980 megawatts per hour due to the disaster's impacts.

According to IPPAN, the powerhouse of the 22-megawatt-capacity Bagmati Small Hydropower Project is completely submerged. This project is promoted by Mandu Hydropower. Kahnikhola Hydropower, Mandu Hydropower and other hydropower projects have informed about the halt in their production to Nepal Stock Exchange as well. 

Similarly, power production of the 22.1-megawatt-capacity Lower Hewakhola Hydropower Project promoted by Mountain Hydro Nepal has been closed due to flooding. This project was also affected due to flooding last year. The production of the 14.9 megawatts capacity Hewakhola Hydropower Project promoted by Panchthar Power has also been halted due to flooding. The reconstruction of this project was about to be completed after it was damaged by flooding last year and it is again damaged.

Power production of the 86-megawatt-capacity Solu Dudhkoshi Hydropower Project promoted by Sahas Energy has also been halted as the dam of the project suffered damage.

The dam and other structures of the three-megawatt-capacity Maikhola Cascade Hydropower Project have been damaged. This project is promoted by the Sagarmatha Hydropower Company.

IPPAN said that the dam and transmission line of the 9.6-megawatt-capacity Maikhola Hydropower Project have suffered damage. This project is also promoted by Sagarmatha Hydroelectricity Company.

Power production has also halted at Pheme Khola Hydropower Project as the Sutrikhola rivulet damaged the power production structures.

The access road and safety wall of the Suparnyadi hydropower project with a total capacity of 40 MW have been damaged due to flooding. The Elep River Tatopani hydropower project has also been damaged by the flood, while the camp house and access road of the 216 megawatts Upper Trishuli-1, constructed with a Korean investment, have also been damaged.

Likewise, three containers loaded with construction materials have been washed away. The crusher of the Hewakhola hydropower Project has been buried and the access road has been damaged.

Similarly, due to the flood, the tower of the transmission line collapsed and the equipment brought to connect the power house were washed away.

A problem has arisen due to a landslide in the access road of Sabhakhola-B hydropower project. Likewise, the powerhouse has been buried and the dam has been damaged.

According to IPPAN, the access road of Sabhakhola-C Hydroelectric Project has been damaged and the road infrastructure of Landruk Modi Hydroelectric Project has also been washed away. The flood has swept away the construction equipment of the Super Trishuli Hydropower Project.

The project with a total capacity of 100 MW is under construction. Two excavator loaders and three tippers of the project have been swept away.

Similarly, the Bailey bridge has been washed away, the power house which was under construction has been buried, according to IPPAN. When the power generation from the affected project was stopped due to floods, the pressure was placed on the NEA's system. Because of this, the NEA had to import an additional 300 megawatts of electricity from India on Saturday alone.

The death toll in the floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall has reached 148 while the number of people gone missing stands at 55.

As the rains lashed out various districts including the Kathmandu Valley itself, incidents of landslide, flood and inundation took such a number of lives and damaged huge property.

It has been learnt that 100 people were injured in the recent catastrophes.

Categorically, Dhading district witnessed 38 deaths, Lalitpur 22, Kathmandu 16, Kavre 29, Makawanpur seven, Sindhpalchowk six, and Solukhumbu, Panchthar and Bhaktapur five each, according to Rishiram Tiwari, Spokesperson at Home Ministry.

Similarly, Dolakha had three casualties, Sindhuli, Dhankuta, Jhapa, Ramchhap and Mahottari two each, and Udayapur, Ilam, Saptari, and Nuwakot one each.

A total of 9,983 security persons were mobilized for search and rescue operations in the disaster-hit areas, while 3,662 people have been rescued so far.

The floods and landslides pulled down 322 houses and 16 bridges, according to data provided by the Armed Police Force.

All the roads leading to Kathmandu from Hetauda are closed as they are disrupted due to flood and landslides triggered by incessant rains from Thursday till Saturday.

The Hetauda-Kathmandu road section, the Kanti Highway, the Bhimphedi-Kulekhani-Sisneri-Dakshinkali-Kathmandu roadway, the Kulekhani-Matatirtha-Kathmandu road and the Tribhuvan Highway remain obstructed due to the landslides and floods occurred on Saturday, the District Administration Office Makawanpur said. 

Chief District Officer Tirtharaj Chiluwal said that effors are on to open the Tribhuvan Highway by the evening today. According to him, it will take some time to open the other roadways except Tribhuvan Highway.

CDO Chiluwal added that the District Administration is making coordination with the police, the local levels and the Department of Roads to clear the landslide debris and repair the roads damaged by landslides and floods at different places.

So far, 100 people have died while 67 are reported missing in the late monsoon-induced floods and landslides that took place across the country. In addition, another 100 people have been injured in the disaster.

According to the Home Ministry, 20 people died in Lalitpur, 15 in Dhading, 12 in Kathmandu, 10 in Kavre, seven in Makawanpur, six in Sindhupalchowk, five in Solukhumbu, five in Panchthar and five in Bhaktapur.

Furthermore, three people have died in Dolakha, two in Sindhuli, two in Dhankuta, two in Mahottari, one each in Ramechhap, Jhapa, Udayapur, Ilam, Saptari and Nuwakot.

According to Rishiram Tiwari, spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs, a total of 9,983 security personnel have been mobilized for search and rescue in the floods and landslides-affected areas and 3,039 people have been successfully rescued so far.

Every monsoon season, Nepal grapples with the life-giving rains turning into a potential threat, unleashing devastating floods and landslides. Overflowing rivers and streams inundate surrounding areas, causing loss of life, livestock, homes and infrastructure. Heavy rain disrupts agriculture and destroys precious topsoil, shattering lives. In the past one decade alone, over 1800 people have lost their lives due to monsoon disasters in Nepal. During that period, about 400 people have gone missing and more than 1500 people have suffered injuries. 

The recent monsoon has been particularly brutal, with reports of casualties, missing individuals and widespread damage. This year’s monsoon can affect as many as 1.8m people and four lakh households. As of 10 Aug 2024, the monsoon has claimed 170 lives since June 10 when it began. Initial reports show it has displaced over 4,279 families, inundated 384 houses, destroyed 270 homes, 102 sheds, 43 bridges, two schools and two government offices, inundating 182 houses and damaging hundreds more.

Many times, human factors have added to the losses. Look at the recent example of the Simaltal landslide mishap of July 12 night. The landslide swept two buses, and it is believed there were 65 people in the buses, of which three passengers swam to safety. While 25 bodies have been found, others remain missing. In the first place, the landslide seems to be a result of improper slope management while constructing the Mugling-Narayanghat Highway, and opening Simaltal-Bangesal-Dumre rural road on the slopes above the highway. Secondly, driving the vehicles on a rainy night under the compromised visibility added to the risks.

Settlements in the river banks adjoining roads are another major reason for heavy losses. The high losses due to the Melamchi flood of 15 June 2021 resulted not only from the climate change and associated heavy rains, but also from the fact that human settlements had extended to lower alluvial deposits. In many places, improper construction of roads over small streams and flawed sewage management systems result in inundation whenever heavy rains occur. Such was the case of the 2021 Kapan Flood, right in northern Kathmandu.

The impact goes beyond immediate losses. Displaced communities face a desperate struggle to secure food, shelter and medical care. Livelihoods are disrupted, and the psychological trauma can be long-lasting. The economic toll is significant, with destroyed infrastructure and hampered agricultural production impacting the entire nation.

Post-disaster management

In the face of such devastation, the need for a swift and coordinated response to deliver life-saving aid is paramount. One approach gaining traction is the ‘one-door policy’, where all relief efforts are channeled through a single government entity. This centralized system promises streamlined resource allocation and standardized distribution. 

Following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, Nepal received massive humanitarian support from home and abroad. Rescue workers worked day and night to rescue the people buried under rubble of collapsed structures. Nepalis are grateful for this. We also witnessed, in the flood of donor agencies, some taking advantage of the distressed situation and engaging in improper activities. Besides, many would go to some easily accessible poor countryside, distribute aid materials, take selfies and post them on social media. This way, some areas received more than what they needed and others received too little. This prompted the government to adopt a one-door policy.

By directing all aid through a central channel, the government can ensure resources are strategically deployed toward the most critical needs. This eliminates duplication of efforts and fosters fairness in distribution. Additionally, a single point of contact enhances accountability and fosters trust with donors. However, bureaucratic hurdles can create bottlenecks, delaying aid delivery when swift action is crucial. Local NGOs, with established relationships and a deeper understanding of local nuances, can tailor aid distribution more effectively.

The one-door policy has been a source of debate in Nepal. The policy introduced in 2015 has been implemented to prevent uneven aid distribution and ensure remote areas received support. However, this centralized approach faced criticism for being slow and inefficient. Many NGOs and private entities felt hamstrung by the need for government approval, leading to delays. In the aftermath of the 2017 floods and landslides, the government again enforced the one-door policy. While the intention was to streamline efforts, critics argue it led to logistical challenges and inefficiencies. There were reports of aid being stuck in red tape while victims remained underserved.

The way forward

One-door-policy does not discourage local governments from actively coordinating rescue works and distribution of reliefs to the needy. To facilitate prompt response, domestic NGOs may be allowed to cooperate with local governments. As to the foreign governments and INGOs willing to support, we should make sure that they comply with our one-door-policy, that they do not take advantage of our calamity to create one or another form of social disharmony, that they do no harm to the self-respect of our suffering people, that they do not try to impose or promote their interests, and that they confine their support to the extent we need.

A mountainous country located in a quake-prone region, Nepal faces multiple threats of heavy rains, floods, landslides, GLOFs, droughts, famines, fires, epidemics, earthquakes and other disasters. Keeping this in view, the government has formed a high-level National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management under the Prime Minister. Through a collaborative approach that marries centralized control with local expertise, Nepal can build resilience and ensure life-saving aid reaches those who need it the most.

As many as 134 people have lost their lives as of Thursday due to floods and landslides since June 10.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Nepal Police and Nepal Police Spokesperson, Dan Bahadur Karki, said that two people died in the Kathmandu Valley, 22 in Koshi Province, six in Madhes Province, 25 in Bagmati Province and 38 in Gandaki Province.

Likewise, 23 people lost their lives in Lumbini Province, eight in Karnali Province and 10 in Sudurpaschim Province.

Karki stated that 148 people were injured including nine in the Kathmandu Valley, 34 in Koshi Province, nine each in Madhes, Lumbini and Bagmati Provinces, 29 in Gandaki Province, 35 in Karnali Province and 14 in Sudurpaschim Province.

Seven people are still missing in the floods and landslides and a search for them is underway, DIG Karki said.

A total of 4,030 families were displaced by the monsoon-related disasters during the period, according to Karki.

Vehicular movement along the Devighat-Galchi road has been obstructed due to landslides triggered by incessant rainfall.

Chief of the District Police Office, Shanti Raj Koirala informed that the landslides disrupted the movement at four different places.

Landslides occurred in two places while vehicular movement has been disrupted in two places due to road collapse.

It may take some time to resume traffic on the road, he said.

As many as 133 people have lost their lives due to floods and landslides since last June 10.

According to the Nepal Police headquarters, 145 people have been injured during the period while seven are still missing, besides the people caught in the Simaltal incident.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dan Bahadur Karki shared two people died in Kathmandu Valley, 22 in Koshi Province, six in Madhes Province, 25 in Bagmati Province, 38 in Gandaki Province, 23 in Lumbini Province, seven in Karnali Province and 10 in Sudurpaschim Province.

According to him, 145 people have been injured including nine in Kathmandu Valley, 34 in Koshi Province, nine in Madhes Province, seven in Bagmati Province, 29 in Gandaki Province, nine in Lumbini Province, 34 in Karnali Province and 14 in Sudurpaschim Province.

A total of 67 people have been rescued including one in Kathmandu Valley, 49 in Koshi Province, 12 in Gandaki Province and five in Sudurpaschim Province. Seven people are reported missing in the floods and landslides.

A total of 4,018 families have been displaced due to the monsoon-induced disasters.

Eighty-three people have so far died in the flooding and landslide incidents across the country.

The Police Headquarters stated that 33 men, 25 women and 25 children have died in such incidents in various places of the country from June 10 till this morning. 

Central Police spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General Dan Bahadur Karki said 106 people have been injured and five persons, including three women and two men, are missing in floods and landslides during this period. Among the injured are 51 men, 36 women and 19 children.

Similarly, 384 cattle have died in these incidents during this period.

Police spokesperson Karki said that 139 houses and 54 cattle sheds have been damaged due to the floods and landslides.

Eight hundred and fifty-eight families have been displaced due to the landslides and flooding caused by the incessant rains. So far 5,428 police personnel have been mobilized for rescue of those people affected by the disasters.

Floods and landslides have damaged one school and two government office buildings. Forty-one bridges have been swept away. Likewise, 161 houses have been submerged and 116 ropanis of land has been buried by debris.

The Police Headquarters stated that 2,954 families have been displaced throughout the country in the 1,028 disaster-related incidents triggered by the incessant rains.

Properties worth millions of rupees were destoryed in the monsoon-induced disasters.

Seventy-eight people have lost their lives so far in floods and landslides triggered by incessant rainfall in various parts of the country.

It has been learnt that properties worth around Rs 100 million were destroyed in the disasters.

Similarly, 90 people have been injured and five have gone missing so far due to the flooding and landslides that occurred in various parts of the country from June 10 till this morning, according to the Police Headquarters.

Three hundred and eighty-one cattle have died, 98 cowsheds destroyed and 595 houses were damaged in the incidents.

A total of 5, 041 police personnel have been mobilized for disaster management during this period, the Police Headquarters informed.

Floods and landslides have damaged one school and two government office buildings. Forty-one bridges have been swept away.

Likewise, 161 houses have been submerged and 116 ropanis of land has been buried by debris.

The Police Headquarters stated that 1,028 disaster-related incidents have occurred due to the incessant rains, resulting in losses around  Rs 1 billion.

A total of 14 people lost their lives to disasters triggered by incessant monsoon rain at different parts of the country since Friday night. 

Others three have gone missing in the landslides, flooding, and inundations. According to Nepal Poice spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Dan Bahadur Karki, the number of injuries in such incidents is 18.

Of the 14 casualties, one has been reported in Kathmandu, three in Syangja, two in Parbat, one in Udayapur, two in Kavrepalanchowk, one in Palpa, three in Tanahun and one in Dang.

Manoj BK from Lakhan Thapa Rural Municipality-6 in Gorkha was killed in a landslide in Nagarjun Municipality-3, Kathmandu.

Others killed due to landslides include Raj Rai from Rautamai Rural Municipality-5 in Udayapur, and Jalamaya Rujal Magar, and Setimaya Rujal from Roshi Rural Municipality-11 in Kavrepalanchowk.

Further casualties from landslides include Hira Nepal, Anisha Bastola, and Shyam Bhandari from Shuklagandaki Municipality-7 in Tanahun, and Guweshori Sharma Marasini, Madhav Sharma and Harimaya Sharma from Biruwa Rural Municipality-6 in Syangja, according to the police.

According to Police Headquarters, Naxal, Jhalak Prasad Sharma and Tulsi Prasad Sharma of Phalebas Municipality-1 Karkineta in Parbat, Rima Saraha Ranamgar of Mathagadhi Rural Municipality-6 in Palpa and Maniam Chaudhary of Bagrapur in Lamahi Municipality-8 of Dang were killed in the landslide. 

Similarly, Jangmu Sherpa of Dolakha Gaurishankar Rural Municipality-9, Rajkumar Yadav of Rajpur Rural Municipality-2, Dang and Khem Kumari Mall of Syangja Bhirkot Municipality-5 Jyamire are among those who disappeared in flooding and landslide incidents.

Police further shared that so far, five people have been injured in Tanahun, one person in Gulmi, two people in Okhaldhunga, three people in Kathmandu, one in Chitwan and six people in Syangja.

The police said that due to the heavy rains, life has been affected across the country and the water level in major rivers including Koshi and Narayani is high.

Even today, the police are continuing to patrol and monitor the banks of rivers and streams in Kathmandu Valley.

Spokesperson Karki said that the water level in the river in the Valley has increased due to incessant rainfall.

Security personnel from all three security agencies have been mobilized in the affected areas with high alertness, the Police Headquarters said.

As many as 7,000 people will likely be affected due to the landslides and floods this year in Tanahun district, according to the Emergency Response Plan, 2024 prepared by the District Administration Office, Tanahun.

It is estimated that 70,000 people of 15,969 households in the entire Gandaki Province will be affected due to monsoon-induced disasters this year. The Plan has listed landslide as the number one risk this year in Tanahun, said Janardhan Gautam, the Chief District Officer and Chair of the District Disaster Management Committee.

"The estimates have been made on the basis of the scientific analysis of data. The risk of landslides is much higher in Tanahun district compared to other disasters," CDO Gautam added. Based on the data from 2010 to 2020 made available by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the vulnerable population to monsoon-induced disasters in 2081 BS is around one million and 250 thousand.

According to the Chief District Officer, the District Disaster Management Committee is prepared for responding to the disasters.

Four urban municipalities and six rural municipalities in the district are at high risk of landslides. The Plan identifies high risk of flooding, fires, epidemics, drought, road accident, lightning and storm in the district after the landslide.

It is stated that 48 of the total 85 wards of 10 local levels in the district are at high risk of landslide.

Three hundred and forty-two people from 81 families have been displaced due to floods and landslides since the start of the monsoon precipitation in Taplejung.

Chief District Officer Rabindra Prasad Acharya said that five people lost their lives to landslide incidents in a period of a week. According to him, eight houses have been completely damaged while 18 more are at high risk due to landslides.

CDO Acharya added that 55 houses are at risk of landslides in various places in the district. "Eighty-four cattle have been killed due to the flood and landslide. Four vehicles have been damaged while the four bridges, including two motorable wooden bridges, have been washed away by the flood," he said.

Stating that 70 displaced families have been sheltering at the homes of their relatives and neighbours, he said 11 families are taking shelter at a nearby school.

The highest numbers of displaced families are from Sirijangha, Sidingwa, Mikwakhola and Phaktanglung rural municipalities. Four members of the same family were killed when their house was swept away by landslide at Phaktanglung-2 while one person from Phidim, Panchthar died at Sirijangha.

Landslides triggered by the incessant rain have damaged the roads as well as the hydroelectricity projects in most of the rural areas. The local governments are making efforts to repair the roads. Most of the rural roads have been obstructed in Sirijangha and Phaktanglung rural municipalities, CDO Acharya said.

The locals said that the flooding and landslides have caused most damage on cardamom farming. The people in the rural areas are living in fear of rain-induced disasters as it has been raining daily.