At least 60 people have been confirmed dead after torrential rains triggered landslides and flash floods across parts of Nepal and neighbouring India, officials said on Sunday. Rescue workers are currently battling to reach stranded communities in the mountainous regions worst hit by the disaster.
According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 44 people have died and five remain missing following relentless downpours that have pounded the Himalayan nation since Friday.
The eastern district of Illam has been the most affected, with 37 fatalities recorded after massive landslides buried homes and blocked major routes.
“Heavy rains overnight caused the landslides,” said district official Sunita Nepal. “Rescue workers have reached the affected areas, but it has been difficult because many roads were blocked.”
The flooding has also impacted Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, where rivers have overflowed their banks, inundating nearby communities. Authorities have deployed security forces, helicopters, and motorboats to support rescue and evacuation efforts.
“There is some damage, but thanks to the authorities’ prior flood alert, we were able to move some belongings to a safe place,” said Rajan Khadga, a 38-year-old vegetable seller.
The disaster has caused widespread travel disruption, with several highways blocked and domestic flights suspended, leaving hundreds of travellers — many returning home after celebrating the Hindu festival of Dashain — stranded.
Prime Minister Sushila Karki assured the public that government agencies are fully mobilized for relief operations.
“Your safety is our utmost concern. Do not hesitate to seek necessary assistance,” she said, announcing public holidays for Sunday and Monday and urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
Meanwhile, across the border in India, at least 20 people were killed in Darjeeling, a tea-producing hill district in West Bengal, after flash floods and landslides destroyed homes and swept away vital infrastructure.
Authorities in both countries have issued red alerts, warning residents in high-risk zones to remain vigilant as heavy rains continue.
The twin disasters have once again underscored the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events across South Asia, raising renewed concerns about climate change and disaster preparedness in the region.
what a pity