Heavy monsoon rains have battered Nepal since Friday, October 3, 2025, unleashing flash floods and landslides that killed at least 47 people by Sunday, October 5. Moreover, authorities reported nine missing after floods swept them away, plus three lightning strike victims elsewhere. As rescue teams race against time, the disaster disrupts travel and highlights the nation’s vulnerability during peak festival season.

The crisis hit hardest in eastern and central regions, including Kathmandu Valley. Torrential downpours swelled the Bagmati and Koshi Rivers, flooding streets and burying homes under debris. Consequently, several highways, like the Prithvi Highway, collapsed under landslides, stranding hundreds of travelers. The Nepal Army personnel evacuated families from overflowing riverbanks in Kathmandu. Additionally, bridges washed away isolated villages, complicating aid delivery.

Furthermore, the timing amplified the tragedy. With Dashain—Nepal’s biggest Hindu festival—wrapping up, millions returned home via roads and flights. As a result, domestic aviation halted Saturday but resumed Sunday, while international routes operated normally. In neighboring India, similar rains killed at least 10 in Bihar and seven in Darjeeling, per reports.

Shanti Mahat, from Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction Authority, stressed ongoing searches for the missing, noting 12 injuries so far.

Meanwhile, experts link intensified events to climate change, which makes monsoons deadlier in the Himalayas. Indeed, Nepal loses hundreds annually to such hazards, despite early warnings. However, forecasts predict more rain until Monday, October 6, urging heightened precautions