Heavy monsoon rains led to destructive floods in the Kathmandu region of Nepal, home to four million people, killing 241 and devastating towns at the end of September in an extreme weather event experts say was spurred by climate change.
Monsoons are extreme weather events common in tropical regions, especially Asia, that bring heavy rain and strong winds similar to the Atlantic Ocean’s hurricane. The late September monsoons caused the Bagmati and Nakhu rivers to overflow, resulting in the worst flooding Nepal has seen in five decades.
The Kathmandu Post reported that rainfall at two bus stations exceeded previous records by 1.1 and 4.8 inches, respectively, with the second station recording a total of 12.72 inches of rain. For comparison, during Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans received eight to ten inches of rain.
The downpour caused the two main rivers in the Kathmandu Valley to overflow, prompting many landslides and killing at least 241 people, according to the Nepalese Bipad system, a system where Neaplese government officials track alerts and disasters within the country. The landslides have been the main cause of the deaths washing away homes, cars and buses full of people.
UN News reported that over 7,600 families have been “severely affected,” many of whose homes washed away. Security forces and volunteers rescued around 4,500 people.
The damage in Kathmandu, which is the capital of Nepal, is devastating and will take years to repair. Damages to road infrastructure will cost $186 million USD to repair in the long-term, according to The Himalayan Times.
Experts say the devastation was worsened by climate change and poor urban planning around the shores of the Bagmati river, one of the main rivers to overflow during the floods. Kathmandu lacks adequate drainage and sewage systems, meaning there is nowhere for the water to go during monsoon season.
Kathmandu has seen rapid urban development along the Bagmati River, decreasing the river’s capability to hold water as the river has been rerouted to make room for more housing, as well as pollution in the water and poor drainage systems. Development has also led to increasing deforestation, which makes the land more vulnerable to flooding.
Urban planner Neeraj Dangol said that houses and roads have been built on areas previously part of the river, disrupting the river’s natural course and making human infrastructure vulnerable to flooding.
Dangol added that climate change is making these flooding events more extreme, but they have been a consistent problem that Nepal is underprepared for. He blamed poor planning and slow preparation for much of the damages.
As climate change continues to increase the frequency and severity of weather disasters, countries must adapt their infrastructure and planning to be able to withstand these events. Cities built on coasts and around rivers are most at risk of being flooded during sudden river flooding. As glaciers and ice caps continue to melt, and weather events become more severe, communities who live along the coasts will soon see their land being taken back by the water. The people of Kathmandu are still awaiting relief from rescue teams.
How can you help?
For anybody interesting in helping with relief and clean-up efforts, UNICEF is on the ground with health and nutrition services, education, sanitation, and clean-up. Volunteers and donations are always needed. You can learn more about how you can get involved here.
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