Landslides, floods, and lightning strikes caused by incessant monsoon rains have resulted in widespread destruction of life and property across eastern Nepal. The outgoing monsoon has claimed at least 49 lives and left several others missing. Official reports indicate that the death toll is likely to increase as rescue teams have not been able to reach remote areas, which have lost access because of road blockages.
A low-pressure system from the Bay of Bengal entered the country late last week. Meteorologists were quick to issue warnings. The government also acted on those warnings, deploying flood and landslide rescue crews, relocating residents of areas prone to disasters, and closing major highways. In a similar downpour in September last year, at least 217 people die,d including in Kathmandu and surrounding areas.
Despite some government efforts, the country faced substantial damage. Eastern districts of Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, and Dhankuta suffered the heaviest destruction. In Ilam alone, entire settlements got buried under mud and debris because of multiple landslides. Local authorities have stated that at least 35 people have died in Ilam alone, in addition to the destruction of dozens of homes and public infrastructures. Schools, community halls, and public buildings have been converted into temporary shelters for displaced families, many of whom lost everything in the floods.
Overflowing rivers submerged farmlands and swept away roads and bridges across eastern Nepal. While details of damage continue to emerge, initial reports suggest that the downpour has damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of residents to flee to higher ground. Landslides blocked major highways, including the Mechi, BP, Prithvi, and Mid-Hill Highways, cutting off transport between provinces and to the capital Kathmandu. Some of these highways including the BP highway have suffered serious damages and will take some time before they come into full operation.
Power lines collapsed in several rural areas, leaving communities without electricity or communication. Energy Minister Kulman Ghising has ensured that power lines will be restored within the next few days.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), at least 29 people have been injured and 5 remain unaccounted for across the country. Early reports from Jhapa and Morang districts of Koshi Province and most districts of Madhesh Province suggest that thousands of hectares of paddy fields have been inundated just weeks before the harvest season.
The pattern of disaster is very similar to the one Kathmandu saw last year. A combination of erratic rainfall patterns, fragile mountain terrain, and infrastructural inadequacy fuel the loss of lives every year. Although the government has put some efforts, long term solution is not around yet.
