Nepal Faces Floods and Landslides

In recent years, Nepal has faced increasingly severe impacts from climate change, with 2024 being particularly devastating. The country experienced unprecedented rainfall between September 27 and 29, 2024, leading to catastrophic flooding and landslides. These events resulted in the loss of over 228 lives, with many more missing. The floods caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including the destruction of more than 15 hydropower projects that collectively generated over 1,000 MW of electricity. Preliminary assessments estimated losses of NPR 4.35 billion (USD 32 million) across hydropower, irrigation, and river control infrastructure.  

Furthermore, In July 2024, western Nepal recorded its highest rainfall ever, 624 mm in 24 hours, causing damage to infrastructure, water supply, irrigation, and more. The capital city, Kathmandu, was particularly hard-hit. The Bagmati River rose two meters above its safe level, inundating entire neighbourhood’s bridges, and roads. The disaster displaced thousands left many without power and water and led to the closure of all main routes out of Kathmandu and schools for three days. Environmental experts attributed the severity of the disaster to climate change and unplanned urban development on flood plains.  

By Nirmaljoshi – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=151889245

In August 2024, two glacial lakes burst in Thame village of the Everest region in Solukhumbu District. The flood damaged a number of households, displacing 135 people, including 40 children. The rising temperatures since August 9, which peaked at 15°C on the day of the flood, contributed to the outburst.  

These events underscore Nepal’s vulnerability to climate-induced disasters. Factors such as shifting snowfall and rainfall patterns, accelerated glacier retreat, and more frequent cloudburst events have increased the region’s susceptibility to natural hazards. The Hindu Kush Himalayan region, which includes Nepal, is experiencing a cascade of multi-hazard events that cause substantial damage.  

Despite contributing only 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Nepal is significantly affected by environmental changes. The country is ranked as the 10th most affected by climate change impacts in the world according to the long-term Climate Risk Index covering the period 2000-2019. 

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