Why We Must Stop Building in Nepal’s Floodplains

Every monsoon, Nepal faces a familiar tragedy related to seasonal hazards. Houses are swept away or damaged, bridges collapse, and families lose their livelihoods. The 2026 floods have once again exposed the danger of building where rivers need room to flow. The August floods along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers caused widespread damage. Preliminary assessments show that approximately 7,570 houses were destroyed or damaged, 37 vehicular bridges and 68 suspension bridges were wrecked, and 13 hydropower projects were affected. In October, another big flood struck Budhi Gandaki, sweeping away buildings and infrastructure.