Commendable Disaster Preparedness

Nepalis woke up to yet another calamity just as they were preparing to conclude their greatest festival, Dashain. Torrential monsoon rains have once again laid bare the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters, causing widespread destruction, especially across eastern and central Nepal. Continuous downpours over the past two days triggered floods and landslides, killing at least 49 people, injuring 20, and leaving several others missing. Most casualties occurred in the hilly districts of Koshi Province, where Ilam suffered the heaviest toll. At least 37 people were killed, one went missing, and seven were critically injured in multiple landslides. Two deaths were reported in Udayapur, one in Khotang, and six in Panchthar—all within the same province. In Madhesh Province, three people were killed and two injured in Rautahat, while one person remains missing in Bara after being swept away by floodwaters. Kathmandu also reported one person missing in flash floods. In another heartrending incident, four trekkers from Bhaktapur—including three members of the same family—went missing while crossing the swollen Bering River in Rasuwa district on their way to Langtang village. Yet amid this tragedy, there is a silver lining. The government’s improved preparedness and early response this year stand out as a rare example of effective disaster management in Nepal. Unlike last year’s monsoon disaster, which caught authorities off guard, this time the government acted swiftly and decisively—reducing human casualties and minimizing property losses.