Landslides Devastate Nepal After Weeks of Deadly Floods
Families flee as homes are swallowed by mud, while heavy rains continue to cause destruction across India and Nepal.
Terrifying videos show Nepalese families desperately escaping as landslides sweep away their homes, weeks after devastating floods claimed over 1,400 lives.
One clip captures a family's screams of terror as the ground beneath their house gives way, sending trees and buildings tumbling down. The family is forced to flee the immediate area, with adults carrying panicked children.
Another video depicts people watching in horror as an entire house collapses into raging floodwaters after teetering on the river's edge. In a third video, a family is seen stranded on their rooftop with their belongings as floodwaters rise around them.
Widespread Destruction and Fatalities
These landslides have been triggered by heavy rainfall and storms, which have caused widespread devastation in both India and Nepal. In India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, 56 people have died, 46 have been injured, and over 1,000 houses have been damaged. Between September 25 and the morning of September 27, the state recorded 66.5 mm of rain, a significant increase from the normal 7.6 mm for the period.
In Nepal, 14 people have died, and another 11 are missing. Authorities have warned that more flash floods are possible, with 49 of the country's 77 districts facing high flood or flash-flood risks. Water levels in major rivers and tributaries continue to rise.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has advised areas like Rasuwa and Nuwakot, which were severely affected by floods last month that killed over 1,450 people, to remain alert, though they are not currently considered high-risk zones.
Infrastructure Damage and Other Incidents
The heavy rains have also impacted essential services. Power supply has been completely disrupted in the Manang, Mustang, Myagdi, and Baglung districts. The structure and transmission towers of a 40-megawatt hydropower project on the Rahuganga River were damaged by flooding.
In India, the Central Water Commission reported that 30 river-monitoring stations across seven states indicated a severe situation, with several major rivers, including the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati, and Narmada, flowing above danger levels.
Telecommunications in parts of Nepal have also been disrupted due to damage to optical fibers and power supplies. In a separate incident in the northern Manang district, ten local workers went missing after an avalanche buried the base camp of the Himlung Himal mountain. The workers were reportedly setting up tents for foreign climbers who were not present at the time of the avalanche.
Authorities in Nepal are conducting rescue operations in waterlogged areas and distributing relief supplies. Officials have been instructed to assess crop damage and provide compensation to affected individuals.