The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the deluge to a slow-moving monsoon trough combined with a western disturbance – a rare convergence that has amplified rainfall intensity over the eastern Himalayas.
Widespread floods and landslides triggered by relentless monsoon rains have killed at least 52 people in Nepal and 18 in India’s Darjeeling district, while displacing thousands and cutting off key transport routes across the Himalayan region. Officials said heavy downpours over the past several days have caused rivers to burst their banks, inundating settlements and blocking highways, as rescue teams struggle to reach remote areas.
In Nepal, torrential rains battered much of the country’s hilly and mountainous regions, triggering flash floods and landslides that swept away homes, bridges, and farmland. The Karnali, Koshi, and Narayani river basins saw water levels rise to their highest in years, submerging several low-lying villages.
“The rains have been continuous since Thursday. Roads are blocked, electricity is out, and communication lines are down in many districts,” said an official from Nepal’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. He added that more than 1,500 people had been evacuated from flood-prone areas, while the army and police were deployed to assist with rescue efforts in the western provinces of Surkhet, Dailekh, and Pyuthan.
Footage shared on social media showed vehicles being washed away in fast-moving waters and residents wading through waist-deep floods in Kathmandu’s outskirts. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology warned that more rainfall was expected through mid-week, urging residents along riverbanks to remain alert.
Multiple Landslides
In India, the eastern Himalayan state of West Bengal has been hit hard, particularly in Darjeeling and Kalimpong, where heavy rainfall triggered multiple landslides. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said at least 18 people have died, including several tea estate workers whose houses were buried under debris. Roads connecting the hill towns were blocked, stranding tourists and residents alike, while the famous Toy Train service was suspended indefinitely.
“The slopes are saturated and unstable. We are seeing one of the worst landslide situations in recent years,” said a local official in Darjeeling district. Rescue teams have been working around the clock to clear debris and reopen access routes, though persistent rain has hampered operations. In neighbouring Sikkim and Assam, rivers such as the Teesta and Brahmaputra have also swelled dangerously close to flood levels.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Nepal and offered humanitarian assistance to support rescue operations and relief efforts.
“The loss of lives and damage caused by heavy rains in Nepal is distressing. India stands with the people and Government of Nepal in this difficult time. As a friendly neighbour and first responder, India remains committed to providing any assistance that may be required,” the Indian Prime Minister said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was coordinating with its Nepali counterpart to facilitate aid deliveries.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the deluge to a slow-moving monsoon trough combined with a western disturbance – a rare convergence that has amplified rainfall intensity over the eastern Himalayas. In Delhi, downpours led to waterlogging in parts of the capital, though the situation was under control by Monday morning.
Stark Reminder of Vulnerability
Environmental experts warned that the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across South Asia reflect the deepening impacts of climate change. Satellite data from the India Meteorological Department and NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission indicated that both India and Nepal received over 200 mm of rainfall within 72 hours – nearly double the October average. Scientists said the trend of erratic monsoons, coupled with rapid urbanisation and deforestation, is worsening flood risks in cities like Kathmandu, Delhi, and Guwahati.
Across Nepal, hospitals reported a surge in injuries and waterborne diseases, while hundreds of people sought shelter in makeshift camps. Local authorities in Kathmandu Valley closed schools and offices as flash floods swept through the city’s outskirts, inundating parts of Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. Power outages were reported in several districts, and mobile networks were intermittently down.
In northern India, officials in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh said they were monitoring river levels as floodwaters from Nepal flow downstream. Early estimates from state disaster management departments suggest that more than 70,000 people could be affected if water levels continue to rise.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it was monitoring the situation closely and was prepared to assist both governments if the humanitarian toll escalates.
For both countries, the floods come as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of South Asia’s monsoon-dependent economies to climate shocks. Despite decades of investment in flood control and early warning systems, experts say infrastructure remains inadequate to cope with the scale of recent disasters.
