Nepal’s swollen Narayani River surged into settlements in the country’s south-central lowlands on Sunday as relentless rain since Thursday triggered deadly floods and landslides across the country, forcing more than 1,500 people from their homes.
Footage shows torrents of muddy water racing past buildings along the river, submerging trees and surrounding a Buddha statue. A section of road is split apart and a guardrail lies collapsed along the riverbank, while uprooted vegetation sweeps downstream.
The Narayani crossed its nine-metre danger level at Devghat early on Sunday, reaching 9.23 metres at around 05:15, according to Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.
The river continued to rise, reaching a record 11.94 metres at 14:10, the highest level recorded at Devghat since measurements began in 1963. It later began to recede but remained well above the danger level.
Landslides also blocked roads across several districts as security forces worked to reach affected communities.
In Butwal, the Tinau River swept away six houses after breaching its danger level, with over 1,000 people evacuated from vulnerable communities overnight.
The latest confirmed reports put the nationwide death toll from floods, landslides and heavy rain at least 21 by Monday morning, with more than 1,500 people displaced and others still missing.
Source: Viory
