More Rainfall but Fewer Casualties During This Year’s Monsoon

Despite recording above-average rainfall this year, Nepal witnessed fewer human casualties and property damage during the monsoon season compared to last year, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

The authority reported 1,454 disaster incidents this year, down from 2,139 in 2024. A total of 140 people lost their lives this year, compared to 495 deaths last year. Similarly, 5,995 households were affected this year, a sharp decline from 10,823 the previous year. The number of missing persons dropped from 66 to 30, while the number of injured decreased from 522 to 300.

According to NDRRMA, this year’s disasters included 292 cases of flooding, 513 landslides, 397 incidents of heavy rainfall, and 252 lightning strikes. Floods claimed 37 lives, left 26 missing, and injured 14 people, affecting 3,200 households. Landslides killed 67 people, left four missing, and injured 77, affecting 1,518 households. Likewise, heavy rainfall caused seven deaths and 20 injuries, affecting 966 households, while lightning strikes killed 29 people, injured 189, and affected 311 households.

This year’s monsoon lasted longer than average. It entered Nepal on June 29— a few days earlier than usual — and lasted 135 days before retreating on November 10.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal received 1,375.4 millimeters of rainfall during the monsoon period — 97.23 percent of the national average of 1,415.5 millimeters. Despite the slightly higher rainfall, human and material losses were lower than last year. However, toward the end of the monsoon (October 3–6), 53 people lost their lives, with Ilam District being the worst affected, recording 39 deaths.

Following the devastation, the government declared Ilam a disaster crisis zone for three months. Similarly, floods in Rasuwa’s Bhote Koshi River on July 8 swept away the Friendship Bridge at the Rasuwagadhi border point, causing extensive damage worth billions of rupees to a dry port and three hydropower projects, and washing away 76 cargo vehicles. Meanwhile, the Madhesh Province faced drought conditions at the beginning of the monsoon, prompting the government to declare the region drought-affected for three months on July 24.

Officials attributed the reduced damage this year to better preparedness. The government implemented the National Monsoon Preparedness and Response Action Plan 2025 (2082 BS), mobilizing all relevant agencies in a coordinated manner. A command center led by the NDRRMA executive head coordinated disaster response for 38 consecutive hours during peak crises.

Ten-year trend

Over the past decade, disaster incidents and casualties have fluctuated significantly.
In 2016, Nepal recorded 642 disaster events with 289 deaths, followed by 624 incidents and 289 deaths in 2017. In 2018, 693 incidents caused 122 deaths; in 2019, 846 incidents caused 203 deaths; and in 2020, 1,015 incidents led to 382 deaths.
The number of incidents dropped to 737 in 2021, with 165 deaths; 712 incidents in 2022, with 179 deaths; and 891 in 2023, with 92 deaths. The figure then surged to 2,139 incidents with 495 deaths in 2024, before declining this year. -- RSS