Nepal Flood Death Toll Reaches 192 as Rescue Operations Intensify

Search and rescue operations continue in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, after devastating monsoon floods and landslides claimed at least 192 lives across the Himalayan nation. The catastrophic floods, triggered by the heaviest rains in more than two decades, have wreaked havoc throughout the region, displacing thousands and destroying infrastructure.

Unplanned Urban Expansion Worsens Flood Impact

Entire neighborhoods in Kathmandu were submerged under water as the torrential rains caused rivers to overflow. Landslides further isolated the capital from the rest of the country, blocking major highways and hampering rescue efforts. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development highlighted that unplanned urban encroachment around the Bagmati River worsened the situation, leading to severe flooding in unauthorized slum settlements.

According to Nepal Police spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki, 35 people were buried alive when a massive landslide engulfed vehicles on a highway south of Kathmandu. Rescue teams in knee-high boots have been working tirelessly to clear mud and debris from affected areas, particularly in the worst-hit riverside communities.

Rescue Operations Continue Amid Grim Recovery Efforts

Nepal’s army has deployed helicopters, motorboats, and rafts, rescuing over 4,000 stranded residents. Bulldozers have been mobilized to clear more than two dozen highway sections blocked by debris. With the water levels receding, authorities are now shifting focus to providing relief and rehabilitating the affected population.

As monsoon-related disasters become more severe across South Asia, experts attribute the intensifying conditions to climate change, which is making extreme weather events more frequent and unpredictable.