Over 60 Killed as Landslides, Floods Ravage Nepal, India

AFP/APP

Kathmandu/ Kolkata: At least 62 people have been killed across Nepal and India’s Darjeeling region after days of relentless heavy rain triggered deadly floods and landslides, officials said on Sunday.

In Nepal, landslides and flooding caused by intense downpours have killed at least 42 people and left five missing, according to the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. “So far, 42 people have died in rain-triggered disasters, and rescue operations are ongoing,” said spokeswoman Shanti Mahat.

The eastern district of Illam was the worst hit, with 37 deaths reported after heavy overnight rains triggered multiple landslides. “Roads have been blocked, and some remote villages remain inaccessible. Rescue workers are moving on foot to reach stranded residents,” said local official Sunita Nepal.

Floodwaters also inundated low-lying settlements along riverbanks in Kathmandu, prompting security personnel to launch rescue efforts with helicopters and motorboats.

Several highways remain blocked, while flight disruptions have stranded hundreds of travellers, many returning home after the Hindu festival of Dashain.

Meanwhile, across the border in India’s Darjeeling district in northern West Bengal, at least 20 people have been killed after intense overnight storms unleashed more than 300 millimetres (12 inches) of rain. The deluge triggered massive landslides, washed away bridges, and caved in mountain roads.

“In the wake of last night’s heavy cyclone in the Darjeeling hills, over 20 people have lost their lives,” said Harsh Vardhan Shringla, a member of India’s upper house of parliament from the region. “Rivers are overflowing, and infrastructure damage is extensive.”

Authorities in both countries have deployed rescue teams, including the military and disaster response personnel, to search for survivors and restore connectivity to cut-off areas.

The Himalayan region is highly prone to monsoon-related disasters, with heavy rainfall often triggering floods and landslides that cause significant casualties and damage. Monsoon rains, which typically last from June to September, bring vital water for agriculture but also widespread destruction.

Experts warn that climate change has intensified the monsoon’s unpredictability and severity, increasing the frequency of extreme weather events across South Asia, particularly in fragile mountain ecosystems like Nepal and India’s northeastern hills.