NDRRMA moved roughly 3,000 residents from high‑risk zones in the wake of a four‑day deluge that claimed 21 lives and left five still unaccounted for.
Landslides, responsible for 14 of the fatalities, slammed into Chitwan’s main road junction, blocking traffic and trapping families. Prem Bahadur Gharti Magar, deputy chairperson of Nishikhola Village Council, said four villagers were buried in a slide that morning.
The storm, triggered by a low‑pressure system from the Bay of Bengal, dumped more than 100 mm at 106 sites; Dumkuali recorded 455.2 mm, the highest, while Pokhara received 407.2 mm and Anbu Khaireni 373.2 mm.
The Narayani River surged past nine metres, flooding settlements and forcing the closure of highways to Chitwan; the Kaligandaki and Marsyangdi rivers were also blocked, threatening downstream towns. NDRRMA spokesperson Shanti Basnet said all 77 district administrations are on high alert.
Across the country, 9,000 foreign trekkers were advised to halt travel, while an avalanche at Himlung Himal recovered two bodies at 7,126 m, adding to the mountain region’s woes.
Rescue teams, backed by the Armed Police Force, are deploying helicopters in Jajarkot, Myagdi and Sankhuwasabha, and the government has sealed key highways while preparing a nationwide high‑alert advisory. The next major development will be the official assessment of the damage and the allocation of relief funds.