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What happened, where and when?
From 26 September 2024, continuous rainfall lasting three days resulted in widespread flooding and landslides across the country. The heavy rains caused multiple rivers to exceed danger levels, leading to devastating floods that claimed 224 lives and caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, public buildings, and health facilities. The floods also severely affected private homes in at least 50 districts, with the hardest-hit areas reported in Kavrepalanchok, Sindhuli, and Lalitpur. Additionally, many travelers were stranded on the roads for more than 36 hours due to the flooding. In a tragic incident in Dhading District, a landslide buried at least three vehicles, resulting in the loss of 35 lives. Search and rescue teams are actively working in the affected areas. The rainfall recorded on 26 and 27 September has been identified as the heaviest ever recorded in Nepal's history. [1][2] In response, the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) activated its Simplied Early Action Protocol (sEAP) following a decision made during the advisory committee meeting (comprising NRCS and IFRC representatives) on 26 September. The sEAP was triggered to support communities living in the Babai and West Rapati river basins in the western part of the country. As part of early actions, NRCS volunteers informed local communities about the potential flooding and helped prepare them for evacuation. Volunteers also arranged shelters at pre-identified evacuation sites, with relief items and transport vehicles kept on standby. However, unexpected heavy rainfall was also recorded in the Kathmandu Valley and nearby southern areas.
Nepal’s monsoon season typically begins in mid-June and lasts until late September. This year, the monsoon arrived three days earlier than usual, starting on 10 June, and is forecasted to extend beyond September. Above-normal rainfall was experienced across most of the country, driven by La Niña conditions, which generally bring wetter weather. The southwest monsoon, which accounts for around 80 per cent of Nepal's annual rainfall, delivered significant precipitation during this period.