Torrential Rains Kill 22 Block Roads Across Nepal

Heavy monsoon rains in Nepal over the past 36 hours have caused devastating landslides and flash floods, resulting in at least 22 deaths and multiple people missing, officials reported. The eastern Ilam district, near the Indian border, was severely affected with 18 fatalities from landslides, while other deaths included those from lightning strikes and flooding in southern and eastern districts. The Koshi River in southeastern Nepal is flowing above danger levels, with authorities opening all 56 sluice gates of the Koshi Barrage to manage excess water and preparing to ban heavy vehicles from crossing its bridge. These natural disasters have blocked highways, washed away bridges, and disrupted domestic flights, stranding hundreds of travelers, while international flights continue to operate normally. Rescue efforts are ongoing amid warnings of continued heavy rainfall, which extends beyond the usual monsoon season that lasts from mid-June to mid-September. Authorities have dispatched security forces for evacuations, especially in flood-prone areas around Kathmandu, where swollen rivers have flooded roads and homes, isolating the capital from other regions.