Monsoon’s Wrath: 73 Lives Lost to Floods, Landslides, and Lightning

The devastating impact of this year’s monsoon season has left a tragic toll on Nepal, with 73 lives lost due to the ferocity of floods, landslides, and lightning strikes. The period from June 14 to August 25 witnessed a series of natural disasters that wreaked havoc across the country, causing significant loss of life and extensive damage to infrastructure.

During this monsoon period, a total of 120 individuals were injured, while another 20 remain missing, adding to the grim statistics of the disaster’s toll.

According to Anil Pokharel, the executive head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority, the nation experienced floods in 135 locations, landslides in 429 locations, and 83 incidents of lightning strikes during the monsoon onslaught.

Among these tragic incidents, 12 lives were claimed by floods, leaving seven injured and 21 individuals missing. The landslides were responsible for a higher casualty count, resulting in the loss of 38 lives, injuring 40, and leaving nine more missing. Lightning strikes, a common occurrence during the monsoon season, took a heavy toll with 21 fatalities and 43 injuries.

The consequences of the floods and landslides also reverberated through Nepal’s energy sector. A total of 17 hydropower projects under construction, with a combined capacity of 326.83 megawatts, and 13 operational projects with a capacity of 132.75 megawatts, bore the brunt of the natural disaster, incurring substantial damage. The cumulative monetary loss has been estimated at a staggering 8 billion 50 million rupees.

The devastation extended to the country’s transportation infrastructure as well. Approximately 29 highways, spread across 250 locations, suffered damage worth Rs. 400 million due to the relentless floods and landslides. Executive Chief Pokharel highlighted that the overall impact was more severe, with over 15 billion rupees worth of physical infrastructure and properties succumbing to the destructive forces of the monsoon.

Key infrastructural elements like motorized bridges and Suspension bridges faced severe damage, amounting to a loss of around Rs. 41 crore. Additionally, the deluge led to the loss of 28 water supply projects, costing around 9 million rupees.

The immediate aftermath calls for extensive restoration efforts, as the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority anticipates a requirement of over Rs. 10.55 billion for the immediate recovery of the damaged infrastructure.

As a result of the calamities, 11 roadways were blocked due to lightning, seven due to landslides, five due to bridge damage, and eight due to landslides combined with lightning. Presently, out of the 231 highways across Nepal, 48 highways are operating with one-way traffic, underscoring the considerable impact of this year’s monsoon season on the nation’s infrastructure and daily life.