Nepal floods leave roads destroyed and rescue teams scrambling
Heavy rain has turned Nepal’s hills into a maze of mud and floodwater, hampering aid delivery and leaving thousands homeless.
Catastrophic monsoon floods have swept through central Nepal, killing over 900 people and leaving more than 4,793 still unaccounted for, according to officials on Monday.
Roads vanish, helicopters become lifelines
E. Hawadi, a police officer coordinating rescue work in the hard‑hit Nuwakot district, told reporters that every road in the area has been washed away, turning villages into isolated islands of mud.
"There are too many challenges. There are no roads, they have all been washed away, and many areas are just not accessible," he said.
With ground routes cut, rescuers are forced to depend on a limited fleet of helicopters to reach stranded families. "Once my men are dropped, they have to roam over large distances to conduct search and rescue," Hawadi added, noting that the aircraft must return for refuelling because the numbers are insufficient.
Humanitarian impact deepens
Entire communities have been swept away, leaving families in temporary shelters or exposed to the elements. Unidentified bodies are being buried in mass graves after DNA sampling.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent estimates that around 93,000 people have been affected, with many homes destroyed or severely damaged. More than 40 bridges have collapsed, prompting India and China to send prefabricated Bailey bridges that can be assembled without heavy equipment.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah described the situation as "challenging due to adverse weather, difficult terrain, and ongoing risks". The UN World Food Programme is air‑dropping 2.4 tonnes of high‑energy biscuits for families who cannot cook.
What lies ahead
Rescue teams continue to face a shortage of flotation devices and other essential gear, while the swollen Trishuli River keeps changing course, turning dry patches into flood zones overnight. Night‑time operations remain impossible in many sectors, forcing officials to prioritise daylight searches.
Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri, a foreign ministry spokesman, appealed for international assistance, especially specialist teams and equipment to locate people buried under debris. He warned that the steep, deep gorges of the Himalayas add a further layer of difficulty to any relief effort.
As the monsoon season persists, authorities expect more rain‑induced landslides and flash floods, meaning the rescue and recovery phase could stretch for weeks, if not months.
