Casualties and rainfall in India
Heavy rainfall has triggered floods and landslides that resulted in at least 56 deaths in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh over a three-day period. According to Uttar Pradesh relief commissioner Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod, the state recorded 66.5mm (2.6 inches) of rain from Friday to Sunday morning, compared with a normal average of 7.6mm for the same period.
The commissioner’s office reported 46 injuries and damage to more than 1,000 houses following a depression over the Bay of Bengal that moved inland and intensified regional rainfall. Uttar Pradesh, which has a population exceeding 240 million, frequently experiences rain and thunderstorms during the annual monsoon season from June to September.
In eastern India’s Odisha state, heavy downpours prompted the evacuation of over 70,000 residents from low-lying areas, according to the NDTV news network. The rains damaged bridges and culverts, leading officials to close the tourist destination Devkund. Meanwhile, India’s Central Water Commission reported that 30 river-monitoring stations across seven states faced a “severe situation,” with major waterways including the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati, and Narmada rising above danger levels.
Impact and warnings in Nepal
In neighbouring Nepal, a new wave of flooding and landslides has killed at least 12 people since Thursday, with several individuals reported missing. Authorities issued warnings regarding potential flash floods across 49 of the nation’s 77 districts, noting that more than half of the districts face high risks as major rivers and tributaries continue to rise.
Officials from the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation reported that power supplies were disrupted in the Manang, Mustang, Myagdi, and Baglung districts, with restoration efforts underway. Water Resources and Energy Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha stated that flooding along the Rahuganga River damaged the structure and transmission-line towers of a 40-megawatt hydropower project.
Shanti Mahat, a spokesperson for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, stated that Rasuwa and Nuwakot—which experienced severe flash flooding last month following a high-altitude glacial mountain collapse along the Nepal-China border—should remain alert, though they are not currently classified as high-risk areas.
