Lashing rains trigger deadly floods and landslides across South Asia
Severe monsoon rains have unleashed havoc across Nepal, claiming the lives of at least 14 people and leaving nine others missing, police reported on Sunday. The torrential downpours have triggered flash floods and landslides in various parts of the country, exacerbating a yearly cycle of destruction that spans the South Asian region.
“We are working tirelessly with other agencies and local communities to locate the missing individuals,” said Dan Bahadur Karki, a spokesman for the Nepalese police.
The fatalities and disappearances occurred in multiple locations across Nepal, where heavy rainfall since Thursday has inundated districts along the lowland border with India. Nepal’s disaster response authorities had earlier issued warnings about the potential for flash floods in several rivers due to the relentless rains.
Meanwhile, neighboring India and downstream Bangladesh have also borne the brunt of the monsoon’s fury. In India’s northeastern state of Assam, six people lost their lives in the past 24 hours alone, according to the state’s Disaster Management Authority. This recent tragedy brings the total death toll from monsoon-related incidents since mid-May to 58 in Assam.
In low-lying Bangladesh, where the mighty rivers Ganges and Brahmaputra traverse on their way to the Bay of Bengal, more than two million people have been affected by the flooding, as confirmed by the country’s disaster management agency.
Monsoon rains, which typically lash South Asia from June to September, are notorious for causing widespread devastation through floods, landslides, and other weather-related disasters. Experts have pointed to climate change and increased urbanization as factors exacerbating the region’s vulnerability to such calamities.
Last month, Nepal endured another bout of severe weather that claimed 14 lives in ferocious storms, including landslides, lightning strikes, and flooding. The recurring disasters underscore the urgent need for robust disaster preparedness and mitigation measures across the region.
Authorities in Nepal and its neighbors continue to grapple with the aftermath of the deluge, focusing on rescue operations, relief efforts, and ensuring the safety of vulnerable communities as the monsoon season progresses.
