Kathmandu Floods: Bagmati River Surge Affects Slum Dwellers Amid Heavy Rains

After heavy rains, the rising level of the Bagmati River has flooded settlements on its banks and affected slum dwellers in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Bishnu Maya Shrestha, a local resident, saw her tin-roof house flood and a portion of her land swept away by the river’s surge.

“The government always talks about resettling us to safer places, but nothing has been done so far. We are still unsure whether they will relocate us or not. We have been living here for years, and the river water has entered my house multiple times,” Bishnu told ANI.

On Tuesday, the Kathmandu Valley experienced heavy rainfall that turned roads into rivers, making daily chores challenging for residents. Students in their college uniforms were seen holding their shoes and wading through floodwaters, while office workers were stuck alongside inundated roads.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology had issued a warning on Monday for torrential rainfall over the next two days, declaring over three dozen districts to be in the red zone and advising people to avoid unnecessary travel.

The Dhap Dam area, a key water supply for Kathmandu, recorded 59.4 millimeters of rain in 12 hours on Tuesday. Kapan received 84.5 millimeters, Thali 67.6 millimeters, Lalitpur’s Godawari 101.6 millimeters, and Naikap 56.4 millimeters within the same period.

Flooding is common in densely populated, unplanned cities like Kathmandu during the monsoon season, but the lack of an effective alert system for those living near embankments or rivers is a major concern.

Prajwal Limbu, another resident, said, “As the water level rises and enters the settlements, there are significant losses. This year alone, we have faced floods three times. Recently, one of the settlers was swept away and died. Essential items like food, clothes, and educational materials have been damaged, along with blankets and beds.”

Nepal is anticipating above-average monsoon rainfall this year, with the monsoon season typically running from June 13 to September 23. Last year, it started on June 14, a day later than usual.

During the monsoon, Nepal experiences high mortality rates due to landslides and flooding, exacerbated by the country’s terrain and unplanned urbanization. The government estimates that up to 1.8 million people could be affected by rain-related incidents this season.

According to the 28th Session of the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum, released on April 29, above-normal rainfall is likely over most parts of South Asia this monsoon season, except in some northern, eastern, and northeastern regions where below-normal rainfall is expected.

Landslides triggered by heavy rains cause extensive damage to life, property, infrastructure, and the environment. In the Tarai region, tens of thousands are affected by floods annually, while landslides frequently impact the hills, especially during the monsoon.

The normal monsoon onset and withdrawal dates are June 13 and October 2, respectively. Last year, the monsoon entered eastern Nepal on June 14 and withdrew on October 15, a delay of thirteen days.

South Asian meteorologists predict that La Nina conditions are likely to develop over the equatorial Pacific during the second half of the monsoon season, generally associated with normal to above-normal rainfall over most parts of South Asia. La Nina typically causes global temperatures to fall, while El Nino, its opposite pattern, increases temperatures and brings warmer waters closer to the surface.

(With ANI Inputs)

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