14 Killed in 24 Hours by Nepal Landslides & Lightning: Monsoon Mayhem!

CONTENTS: Monsoon Mayhem! 14 Killed in 24 Hours by Nepal Landslides & Lightning

In the past 24 hours, landslides, floods, and lightning incidents across Nepal have resulted in multiple fatalities as the monsoon season progresses. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRMA) under Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs reported that landslides have claimed eight lives, lightning strikes have caused five deaths, and one person has died due to flooding.

Dijan Bhattarai, the spokesperson for the NDRMA, informed ANI over the phone that a total of 44 incidents were recorded on June 26, 2024. These incidents resulted in 14 fatalities: 8 due to landslides, 5 from lightning, and 1 from flooding. Additionally, 2 people are still missing following a landslide, and 10 individuals have been injured.

According to the home ministry, Wednesday’s landslides resulted in five deaths in Lamjung, two in Kaski, and one in Okhaldhunga, with another fatality due to flooding.

14 Killed in 24 Hours by Nepal Landslides & Lightning: In the past 17 days up to June 26, 2024, Nepal has recorded 147 incidents resulting in 28 fatalities since the onset of the monsoon season.

According to the home ministry, landslides have claimed 14 lives, while lightning has caused 13 deaths during this period. Nepal experiences high mortality rates due to landslides and flooding during monsoons annually, attributed to the country’s terrain and unplanned urbanization, including settlements on landslide-prone slopes.

The monsoon season in Nepal typically starts on June 13 and ends on September 23. Last year, it began on June 14, a day later than usual. This year, the monsoon is expected to start on June 13 and remain active for around three months. The government estimates that up to 1.8 million people could be affected by rain-related incidents during this period.

A statement from the 28th Session of the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum released on April 29 predicts above-normal rainfall in most parts of South Asia during the monsoon season. However, some areas in the northern, eastern, and northeastern regions may experience below-normal rainfall.

Heavy rains in Nepal frequently trigger landslides, leading to significant loss of life, damage to property, infrastructure, and environmental degradation. Each year, floods affect tens of thousands of people in the Tarai region, while landslides pose a frequent threat in the hills, particularly during the monsoon season.

14 Killed in 24 Hours by Nepal Landslides & Lightning:  Meteorologists in South Asia have indicated a strong likelihood of La Nina conditions developing over the equatorial Pacific during the latter part of the southwest monsoon season this year. La Nina conditions typically correlate with normal to above-normal rainfall across most parts of South Asia during the southwest monsoon.