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OVERVIEW
Heavy rainfall on 27–28 September caused flash floods, the overflow of rivers, and landslides in 44 districts across Nepal, with the worst effects in the hilly Kathmandu Valley – where at least 10in fell, nearly 20% of the monthly average – followed by the plains of eastern Koshi and Madhesh provinces, increasing their vulnerability to flooding. Several districts in central Gandaki, Karnali, and Lumbini provinces have also been affected (UN RC Nepal 01/10/2024; UNICEF 01/10/2024; AP 02/10/2024). According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, at least 8,400 people have been displaced (IFRC 29/09/2024). By 4 October, around 236 people had been killed, 173 injured, and 19 missing (AJ 02/10/2024; The Himalayan Times 02/10/2024). By 30 September, 56 deaths had been reported in the hill-ringed capital of Kathmandu alone (Reuters 30/09/2024).
Casualty estimates are expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue, particularly in remote and inaccessible areas (The Guardian 30/09/2024; CNN 30/09/2024).
Nine stations across Kathmandu recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall since Nepal implemented its current rainfall measurement system in 1970 (Red Cross Climate Centre 29/09/2024). By 30 September, the water levels of the Bagmati River, which runs through the Kathmandu Valley, were 2m above the danger threshold (The Guardian 30/09/2024).
By 2 October, all major routes out of Kathmandu had been blocked as a result of extensive road damage, including 17 affected road sections (The Himalayan Times 01/10/2024). By 1 October, priority needs included temporary shelter and WASH facilities for flood-displaced people, food assistance, and the restoration of disrupted road and communication networks to enable rescue and relief efforts (UN RC Nepal 01/10/2024).
According to preliminary government assessments, the floods are estimated to have resulted in damages amounting to 1% of Nepal’s GDP, with the agriculture sector, the backbone of the country’s economy, experiencing the largest losses, totalling Rs 6 billion (USD 44.6 million).
The energy sector followed with losses of Rs 4 billion (USD 29.8 million), and the water supply sector suffered Rs 3.55 billion (USD 26.44 million) in damages. The transport sector incurred Rs 2.52 billion (USD 18.7 million) in losses, and the irrigation sector reported losses of Rs 1 billion (USD 7.4 million) (Kathmandu Post 02/10/2024).
In recent years, the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, which includes Nepal, has seen an increase in extreme weather events. Consecutive years of intense monsoons in 2023 and 2024 resulted in widespread destruction, with floods and landslides affecting millions of people throughout the region. Nepal, alongside its neighbours Bangladesh, China, and India, is among the ten countries most at risk of experiencing extreme rainfall by 2100 (DTE 30/09/2024). By 30 September, over 300 people had died as a result of rain-related events in Nepal in 2024 (The Guardian 30/09/2024).