Sun Oct 05 08:34:29 UTC 2025: ## Nepal Grapples with Deadly Floods and Landslides as Rains Lash the Nation
**Kathmandu, Nepal** – Nepal is reeling from devastating floods and landslides triggered by relentless heavy rains, leaving at least 47 people dead and widespread disruption across the country. Rescue operations are underway, but hampered by the severe weather and damage to transport infrastructure.
The eastern Ilam district has been particularly hard hit, with 35 fatalities reported from landslides, according to the Armed Police Force. Nine individuals are missing, swept away by floodwaters since Friday, while lightning strikes have claimed three more lives in other regions.
“Rescue efforts for the missing persons are going on,” stated Shanti Mahat, spokesperson for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.
In response to the escalating crisis, the government has declared a two-day public holiday, exempting emergency services and disaster response teams. Government spokesperson Rameshwar Dangal cited continued heavy rain forecasts as the reason for the unusual measure.
The Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for over a dozen districts, warning residents near waterways to evacuate immediately. Key areas, including parts of Kathmandu, are under threat, with the Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, and Madhesh provinces expected to experience the worst of the downpours.
Landslides have crippled transport networks, cutting off major routes into Kathmandu. The Araniko Highway, crucial for trade with China, is blocked due to multiple road collapses, while the BP Highway connecting eastern regions is buried under debris. Domestic flights have been suspended due to poor visibility, though international flights are operating with delays.
The crisis coincides with the return of hundreds of thousands of people from Dashain celebrations, Nepal’s most important religious festival, further complicating rescue and relief efforts.
Concerns are particularly high regarding the Koshi River in southeastern Nepal, where water levels have surged to over twice their normal volume. All 56 sluice gates at the Koshi Barrage have been opened, a significant increase compared to the usual 10 to 12, and authorities are considering restricting heavy vehicles from crossing the bridge. This river poses a significant flood risk to India’s Bihar state.
Across the border in the Darjeeling region of West Bengal, India, landslides have also claimed at least seven lives, highlighting the regional impact of the extreme weather.
The monsoon season in Nepal, which typically runs from mid-June to mid-September, frequently results in deadly landslides and flash floods, claiming hundreds of lives annually in the mountainous nation.
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