Floods, Landslides Kill 56 in India, 14 in Nepal as Rivers Rise
Days of intense rain and storms have triggered deadly floods and landslides across India and Nepal, damaging homes, pushing major rivers above danger levels and prompting warnings of further flash floods.
Heavy rainfall, storms, floods and landslides have killed 56 people in India and 14 in Nepal, as authorities continue rescue and relief operations amid rising river levels and warnings of further flooding.
In India, the severe weather has also left 46 people injured and damaged more than 1,000 houses. Rescue teams are operating in waterlogged areas, while officials have been directed to assess agricultural losses and facilitate compensation for affected communities.
Uttar Pradesh recorded particularly intense rainfall. The state received 66.5 mm of rain between September 25 and the morning of September 27, compared with the normal 7.6 mm for the period.
HIGHLIGHT: 56 people have died in India, while 46 have been injured and more than 1,000 houses damaged as heavy rain, storms and flooding batter multiple regions.
The Central Water Commission said 30 river-monitoring stations across seven Indian states were indicating a “severe situation.” Major rivers including the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati and Narmada were reported above danger levels.
The situation is also serious in neighbouring Nepal, where 14 people have died and 11 remain missing. Authorities warned of possible flash floods across 49 of the country's 77 districts as major rivers and tributaries continued to rise.
Power supplies have been completely disrupted in Nepal's Manang, Mustang, Myagdi and Baglung districts. Flooding of the Rahuganga River also damaged infrastructure and transmission towers belonging to a 40-megawatt hydropower project.
Flood-related damage has additionally disrupted telecommunications in parts of Nepal after optical-fibre networks and electricity infrastructure were affected.
Separately, 10 local workers were reported missing after an avalanche buried a base camp at the 7,126-metre Himlung Himal in Nepal's Manang district. The workers had been preparing tents for foreign climbers, who were not at the camp when the avalanche occurred.
With rivers remaining elevated and authorities warning that additional flash floods are possible, emergency and relief operations remain underway across affected areas of India and Nepal.