Nepal floods: A preventable disaster

With better planning, stronger systems and informed communities, we can reform our action plan.

Nisha (name changed), a resident of Sanchal, Sanepa, whose home was flooded twice in 2024, recalls, “We didn’t even get a warning. We didn’t know who to reach out to.” As floodwater surged through her house, she and her father were forced to cut off the power supply to avoid electrocution. Trapped on the terrace, they watched in horror as seven of their neighbours, including children, were nearly swept away, only to be saved by the single person who could swim. “We felt completely abandoned,” Nisha says. “No one came, not even from the ward office.” Even now, the fear of flooding lingers. “Despite what happened, we are still living in the same house. And with news that this year’s rainfall might be even heavier, we’re living in fear of having to relive the experience,” she shared.