Unprecedented rainfall in Nepal has led to a devastating crisis, forcing authorities to take drastic measures in response to the mounting death toll and widespread destruction.
According to a Reuters report, Nepal has shut down schools for three days following two days of heavy rain that triggered landslides and floods across the country. The disaster has claimed 151 lives, with 56 people still missing, prompting officials to take immediate action.
The Kathmandu valley, home to 4 million people, including the capital city, has been particularly hard hit. The region recorded 37 deaths as floods brought normal activities and traffic to a standstill. The closure of schools was deemed necessary as many educational buildings sustained damage from the relentless downpour, creating difficulties for students and parents alike.
The intensity of the rainfall has been extraordinary, with some parts of Kathmandu receiving up to 322.2 mm (12.7 inches) of rain. This deluge caused the main Bagmati river to swell 2.2 meters (7 feet) above the danger mark, putting immense pressure on the city's infrastructure and flood defenses.
Lakshmi Bhattarai, a spokesperson for the education ministry, explained the decision to close schools, stating, "We have urged the concerned authorities to close schools in the affected areas for three days."
While the rains have begun to ease in many areas as of Sunday morning, the aftermath of the disaster continues to unfold. Weather forecaster Govinda Jha indicated that while isolated showers may occur, heavy rains are unlikely in the immediate future.
Television footage has captured the grim reality of the situation, showing police rescuers working tirelessly to retrieve bodies from landslide-affected areas. In one particularly tragic incident, 16 bodies were recovered from two buses that had been swept away by a massive landslide on a key route into Kathmandu.
Weather officials have attributed the rainstorms to a low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal, which extended over parts of neighboring India close to Nepal. However, climate scientists at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) point to a more complex issue, emphasizing that haphazard development in Nepal amplifies the risks associated with climate change.
Arun Bhakta Shrestha, an environmental risk official at ICIMOD, expressed his shock at the scale of flooding: "I've never before seen flooding on this scale in Kathmandu."
The ICIMOD has issued a statement urging the government and city planners to take urgent action. They emphasize the need for increased investment in infrastructure, including underground stormwater and sewage systems, both engineered ("grey") and nature-based ("green") solutions.
Experts argue that the impact of the rains was exacerbated by poor drainage resulting from unplanned settlements and urbanization efforts. The construction on floodplains, lack of water retention areas, and encroachment on the Bagmati river have all contributed to the severity of the flooding.
While the situation in Kathmandu remains critical, there is some positive news from other parts of the country. Ram Chandra Tiwari, the top bureaucrat in Nepal's southeast region, reported that the level of the Koshi River has started to go down. This river, known for causing deadly floods in India's eastern state of Bihar nearly every year, had been running at a level nearly three times normal and above the danger mark.
The recent floods and landslides in Nepal have resulted in a significant loss of life, with 151 confirmed deaths and 56 people still missing. The disaster has led to the closure of schools for three days and highlighted the urgent need for improved urban planning and infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events. As rescue efforts continue and the country begins to assess the full extent of the damage, the focus is shifting towards long-term solutions to enhance Nepal's resilience to future climate-related disasters.
