At least 47 dead in Nepal as heavy rains trigger landslides, floods

Torrential rains have caused deadly landslides and flash floods across Nepal, killing at least 47 people, blocking roads, and washing away bridges, officials said Sunday.

Thirty-five fatalities occurred in separate landslides in Ilam district in eastern Nepal near the Indian border, according to Kalidas Dhauboji, spokesperson for the Armed Police Force. Nine people remain missing after being swept away by floods since Friday, while three others were killed by lightning strikes elsewhere in the country.

“Rescue efforts for the missing persons are ongoing,” said Shanti Mahat, spokesperson for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority.

In an unusual move, the Ministry of Home Affairs declared Monday and Tuesday public holidays nationwide, except for emergency services and disaster response teams. Government spokesperson Rameshwar Dangal said the measure was taken in light of forecasts predicting continued heavy rainfall.

More than a dozen districts are under red alert, with authorities urging residents living near rivers and waterways to evacuate immediately. The warning covers major population centers, including parts of Kathmandu. Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, and Madhesh provinces are expected to experience the heaviest rainfall through Monday morning.

Transport infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, with landslides cutting all major routes into the capital, complicating rescue and relief operations.