Floods and landslides kill 70 across India and Nepal as rivers exceed danger levels

Heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides have killed at least 70 people across India and Nepal, while rising rivers and continued rainfall are keeping large areas under flood and flash-flood warnings.

In India, 56 people have died, 46 have been injured and more than 1,000 houses have been damaged following around 60 hours of intense rain and storms. Uttar Pradesh recorded 66.5 mm of rainfall between 25 and 27 September, compared with a normal 7.6 mm for the same period.

The Central Water Commission reported a severe situation at 30 river-monitoring stations across seven states. Several major rivers, including the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati and Narmada, were above danger levels.

In Odisha, more than 70,000 people living in low-lying areas were reportedly evacuated as rivers rose, while flooding damaged bridges and culverts and forced the closure of some routes and public areas.

In neighbouring Nepal, authorities reported 14 deaths and 11 people missing following another period of heavy rain, floods and landslides.

Possible flash floods were forecast in 49 of the country's 77 districts, with more than half facing high flood or flash-flood risk as major rivers and tributaries continued to rise.

The new event comes only weeks after the severe Himalayan flooding that affected Rasuwa and Nuwakot. Authorities said both districts should remain alert, although they were not currently classified among the highest-risk areas.

The latest flooding has also affected critical infrastructure. Power supplies were completely disrupted in Manang, Mustang, Myagdi and Baglung, while flooding of the Rahuganga River damaged structures and transmission-line towers associated with a 40 MW hydropower project.

Telecommunications were also disrupted in parts of Nepal following damage to optical fibre networks and electricity supplies.

Separately, 10 local workers were reported missing after an avalanche buried a base camp at Himlung Himal in the northern Manang district. The workers had been preparing tents for foreign climbers, who were not at the camp when the avalanche occurred.

Prolonged intense rainfall can rapidly change both slope and river conditions. In steep terrain, infiltration increases the water content of soils and weathered rock, raises pore-water pressures and reduces effective stress and shear strength. This can trigger shallow or deeper landslides, particularly where slopes have already been weakened by previous rainfall or erosion.

At the same time, rising rivers increase erosion and scour around bridge foundations, riverbanks, road embankments and utility crossings. Culverts and drainage systems can become overwhelmed, while debris transported by floodwater can block channels and redirect flow toward roads, settlements and infrastructure.

The events in India and Nepal show how rainfall can develop into a cascading infrastructure emergency. Landslides, flooding, damaged homes, disrupted power, telecommunications failures and hydropower damage are interconnected consequences of the same extreme hydrological conditions.

With river levels still high and further flash flooding possible, monitoring rainfall, slope movement, drainage performance and river levels remains critical across the affected regions.