Nepal is facing a fresh rain-related disaster emergency, with at least 10 people killed and one person missing in landslides in Baglung district after continuous rainfall over the past several days.
According to district authorities, four people died in Tamankhola Rural Municipality and five in Nisikhola Rural Municipality on Sunday, while another person was killed in a separate landslide in Tarakhola on Saturday. A search is continuing for the missing person.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Multiple landslides triggered by continuous rainfall in Baglung.
Location: Baglung district, western Nepal.
Authority/Organisation: Nepal Police, district administration, disaster-response teams and Nepali Army.
Action Taken: Search-and-rescue teams deployed; helicopter support provided; debris-clearance operations underway at affected road sections.
Impact: 10 people killed and one missing in Baglung; wider rain-related disasters have killed 21 people across Nepal.
Several houses were buried or swept away. In Tamankhola-3, eight houses were reportedly swept away, while four members of one family died after their home was buried by a landslide in Nisikhola-3.
Rescue teams, including security personnel supported by a Nepali Army helicopter, have reached affected areas to assist with search and rescue operations. District officials said advance warnings helped prevent further casualties in some locations.
The Baglung tragedy is part of a wider weather emergency across Nepal.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The latest disaster shows how prolonged rainfall can create multiple risks simultaneously — landslides in mountainous settlements, flooding along rivers and disruption of critical road links. For communities living near unstable slopes, the danger can continue even after an initial landslide because saturated ground may remain vulnerable to further movement. The disruption of the Prithvi Highway also highlights the wider economic and humanitarian impact of such events, as road closures can delay emergency assistance and interrupt the movement of people and essential supplies.
According to Nepal's disaster management authorities, 21 people have died, five remain missing and five have been injured in floods, landslides and other rain-related incidents since September 24. Landslides account for the largest share of reported deaths, with 14 fatalities attributed to them. Around 3,000 people have been moved from high-risk areas to safer locations.
The continuing rainfall has also disrupted transportation.
A fresh landslide on Monday blocked the Prithvi Highway at Ghansikuwa in Tanahun, bringing traffic to a halt. Police and local authorities have begun coordinating debris-removal efforts to reopen the road.
The situation has also affected other parts of the country, with homes, bridges and public infrastructure damaged by flooding and landslides. In Gandaki Province alone, preliminary assessments reported significant displacement and damage to houses and transport infrastructure.
The immediate priority for authorities remains rescuing missing people, moving residents away from unstable slopes and restoring road connectivity while rainfall continues.
