Nepal, a country already vulnerable to natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and landslides, was struck by a catastrophic event in the final week of September 2024. A massive cloudburst—an intense and sudden downpour—swept across several districts, triggering devastating floods and landslides that caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and agricultural land, resulting in the tragic loss of over 230 lives. These recent disasters have laid bare the severe impacts of climate change on Nepal’s mountainous and hilly regions. The destruction was widespread, and even in the Kathmandu Valley, the response from the state was inadequate.
This catastrophe serves as a stark reminder of the increasing risks climate change poses to human life, rights, and development in Nepal. Considering this, it is imperative that we take proactive measures to prepare for future disasters. Addressing climate change and ensuring gender justice are essential steps toward building a more resilient and equitable future for all.
The Cloudburst Event and its Impact
In the final week of September 2024, Nepal was hit by unusually heavy rainfall due to a rare weather pattern, affecting 56 of the country’s 77 districts. A sudden and intense cloudburst, known for its rapid and extreme rainfall, particularly impacted the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding districts, including Dhading, Kavrepalanchok, Sindhupalchok, Makwanpur, and Nuwakot—regions already vulnerable to the monsoon rains.
The torrential downpour overwhelmed river systems and triggered widespread landslides, submerging entire villages and cutting off vital road links. Flash floods surged through both rural and semi-urban areas, causing rivers to overflow, inundating homes, agricultural lands, and critical infrastructure.
Loss of Life and Damage to Infrastructure
Local officials report that hundreds of homes were destroyed, and numerous roads were rendered impassable due to the landslides and floodwaters. Bridges and culverts were washed away, particularly in Kavrepalanchok and Dhading—two of the most severely affected districts. These disruptions have isolated entire communities, severely hampering rescue and relief operations.
In Kavrepalanchok, just east of Kathmandu, extensive flooding occurred along the Roshi River and other tributaries, while in the Terai region, the swollen Saptkoshi River caused widespread damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and human settlements. The floodwaters destroyed homes, swept away vehicles, and inundated agricultural fields, leading to substantial economic losses.
One of the most devastating impacts was on the agricultural sector. Thousands of farmers lost their crops in the floods, worsening the already fragile livelihoods in rural areas. With the monsoon harvest serving as a critical source of income, the destruction of crops could have long-lasting economic consequences for the affected communities.
Rescue and Relief Efforts
The Nepalese government faced significant criticism for its delayed response and perceived ineffectiveness in managing rescue operations. Despite this, the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and the Nepal Red Cross Society were quickly mobilized to assist in relief efforts. However, the scale of the disaster, compounded by ongoing heavy rains and landslides, made it extremely challenging for rescue teams to access the affected areas.
In response, the Nepalese government, in collaboration with international aid organizations, has been coordinating relief operations to provide essential support such as food, shelter, and medical supplies to displaced communities. One of the most urgent needs identified in the immediate aftermath was the provision of clean drinking water and sanitation facilities, as many local water sources were contaminated by floodwaters, creating serious health risks for the affected populations.
Environmental and Long-Term Impacts
The recent cloudburst and subsequent floods have underscored the growing vulnerability of Nepal’s mountainous regions to extreme weather events. Many of the affected areas, which are already prone to landslides during the monsoon season, experienced a deadly combination of floods and mudslides due to the intense rainfall in the last week of September.
Rural infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and water supply systems, was severely damaged in several regions, particularly in areas still recovering from previous disasters like the 2015 Gorkha earthquake. The destruction of this critical infrastructure has significantly hampered relief efforts, making it difficult for aid agencies to reach affected communities and assess the full scope of the damage.
Increasing Frequency of Extreme Weather Events
This disaster highlights a growing concern about the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in Nepal. Experts attribute the rise in such events to climate change, which has intensified rainfall patterns, making them more erratic and unpredictable. Nepal's already fragile infrastructure, combined with the increasing settlement of populations in flood- and landslide-prone areas, has amplified the risks posed by these extreme weather events.
Government Response and the Need for Improved Early Warning Systems
The cloudburst disaster has once again highlighted the urgent need for more effective early warning systems (EWS) in Nepal, especially for flash floods and landslides, which occur with little to no warning. While Nepal has made progress in developing early warning systems for flooding through the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) and the Nepal Red Cross, these systems are still inadequate for predicting sudden events like cloudbursts and flash floods.
Experts are calling for a more integrated approach, combining advanced weather forecasting technology, real-time data collection, and community-based alert systems to ensure better preparedness. This is especially critical in the Terai and Himalayan foothill regions, where cloudbursts are expected to become more frequent and severe in the coming years.
Conclusion
The Government of Nepal has instructed relevant agencies to remain on high alert following a forecast of heavy rainfall in 56 districts, expected to continue for several more days from the start of October 2024. The devastating cloudburst of September 2024 has starkly underscored Nepal's vulnerability to extreme weather events, emphasizing the urgent need for investments in disaster preparedness, resilient infrastructure, and robust early warning systems. The recent floods and landslides, which resulted in significant loss of life and property damage, reveal critical gaps in the country’s capacity to effectively manage such crises. Both the government and international organizations must prioritize immediate relief efforts while also focusing on long-term strategies for disaster risk reduction to better protect communities and ensure the sustainability of livelihoods in the future.