Heavy rain in Nepal has triggered landslides and flash floods, killing at least 47 people since Friday, officials said on Sunday. Thirty-five of the fatalities occurred in separate landslides in the Ilam district in eastern Nepal bordering India. In addition, nine people are missing after being swept away by floods, while three others were killed by lightning strikes elsewhere in the country.
Across the border in Darjeeling, West Bengal, at least seven people have died due to landslides following heavy rainfall, with authorities working to recover additional victims. Several highways have been blocked and bridges washed away, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.
Domestic flights in Nepal have largely been disrupted, although international flights continue to operate normally, according to Kathmandu airport officials. In southeastern Nepal, the Koshi River, known for causing deadly floods in Bihar, India, was flowing above danger levels. Authorities in Sunsari district opened all 56 sluice gates of the Koshi Barrage to drain water and banned vehicular traffic on the bridge.
In Kathmandu, several rivers have flooded roads and inundated homes, cutting off the temple-studded capital from the rest of the country by road. Monsoon-related landslides and flash floods are common in Nepal’s mountainous regions, causing hundreds of deaths annually. Weather officials warned that rains were likely to continue until Monday, and authorities said they were taking maximum precautions to aid affected residents.
