Susanna Riva Over the past three days, the Indian peninsula and the mountains of Nepal have been hit by intense rains, which have transformed rivers into lethal currents and triggered deadly landslides. Authorities in both countries have reported a steadily rising death toll, while rescue operations have remained burdened by widespread damage to homes, roads, and power plants.
The floods were concentrated in India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, where authorities confirmed 56 deaths and 46 injuries following exceptional rainfall, in addition to over 1,000 homes being damaged. In Nepal, at least 12 people have died due to new waves of water and landslides, with numerous others missing.
Uttar Pradesh: Deaths, injuries, and widespread damage
Emergency Director Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod said the region recorded 66,5 mm of rainfall over the weekend, compared to the usual average of 7,6 mm. This sudden surge overwhelmed drainage systems, causing rivers such as the Ganges, Gandak, and Kosi to overflow their banks, all of which were measured above danger levels by Central Water Commission monitoring stations .
Exceptional rainfall and rainfall records
Some stations recorded more than 200 mm of water in 24 hours, a quantity comparable to months of monsoons. The result was a rapid rise in river levels, submerging densely populated neighborhoods in Amethi, Bahraich, Basti, and Kanpur Nagar. In Bahraich, a collapsed wall claimed one life, while in Basti, a violent storm caused another death.
Odisha, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh: Evacuations and disruptions
Meanwhile, in eastern India, the state of Odisha has had to evacuate more than 70,000 people from high-risk areas due to rising rivers and the failure of bridges and dams. In Bihar, the Gandak River has flooded the homes of over 2,000 residents of West Champaran, while authorities have issued warnings for eight other districts. The dramatic situation has spread to Chhattisgarh, where floodwaters have cut off roads, forced the closure of schools in eight districts, and caused the death of a 40-year-old farmer who was swept away by a swollen swamp.
Nepal: New waves of floods and landslides
Nepal has experienced a second wave of disasters following the devastating floods of late August, which had already claimed more than 1,400 lives. Since Thursday, new landslides have caused 12 more deaths, including three children and a woman buried in a landslide in Nishi Khola, Baglung district. Furthermore, another avalanche buried the Himlung Himal base camp, leaving ten trekking workers missing.
Impact on hydroelectric plants and the electricity grid
The fortunate flow of the Rahuganga River damaged the structure and transmission towers of a 40 MW hydroelectric project, forcing the Minister of Water Resources and Energy, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, to dispatch a technical team to assess the damage and begin restoration work. Meanwhile, power outages have affected the provinces of Manang, Mustang, Myagdi, and Baglung, where authorities are struggling to restore power and ensure the continuity of essential services.
Authorities in both countries have updated their emergency warnings, indicating that 49 of Nepal's 77 districts are at risk of flash flooding. Although the Rasuwa and Nuwakot areas are not currently classified as high-risk, risk management experts are urging the population to remain vigilant, as the hydrological situation remains highly unstable.