People 'jump from roof to roof' as floods kill 148 in Nepal

In Nepal, a series of devastating floods and landslides have resulted in the tragic loss of at least 148 lives and left over 100 individuals injured, according to police reports. The calamity unfolded after two days of relentless rainfall that inundated the Kathmandu valley, the area surrounding the capital city. Authorities have indicated that more than 50 people remain unaccounted for as of Sunday. The situation has forced many residents to resort to desperate measures, with some stating they had to 'jump from one roof to another' to escape the rapidly rising waters that have submerged thousands of homes. Rescue operations have been underway, with approximately 3,600 individuals successfully rescued from the floodwaters. Emergency crews are utilizing helicopters and inflatable rafts to reach those stranded. While forecasts predict continued rainfall through Tuesday, there are indications that the intensity of the downpour may begin to lessen. Some residents have managed to return to their homes, which are now covered in mud, while others remain isolated due to blocked roads connecting towns and villages. The combination of flash floods and landslides has led to numerous fatalities. Police officials have reported that at least 35 bodies have been recovered from vehicles that were buried under landslides along the Prithvi Highway, which is situated near Kathmandu. Most major highways linking Kathmandu to other regions of the country are obstructed in multiple locations due to landslides, complicating rescue efforts. On Saturday, rescue teams worked tirelessly to navigate through the flooded streets of Kathmandu, bringing residents to safety from areas near the overflowing Bagmati River. The death toll is expected to rise as rain is forecasted to persist until Tuesday. In Bhaktapur, a city located to the east of Kathmandu, five individuals, including a pregnant woman and a four-year-old girl, tragically lost their lives when a house collapsed under the weight of a landslide. In Dhading, which lies to the west of Kathmandu, two bodies were recovered from a bus that had been buried by a landslide, with twelve people, including the driver, reported to be on board. Additionally, six football players lost their lives when a landslide struck their training center operated by the All Nepal Football Association in Makwanpur, located southwest of the capital. Others have been swept away by the floodwaters, with eyewitness Jitendra Bhandari recounting a harrowing scene where four individuals were carried away by the Nakkhu River in the southern Kathmandu valley. 'For hours, they kept on pleading for help,' he told the BBC. 'We could do nothing. ' Hari Om Malla, a local resident, shared his experience of losing his truck to the floodwaters in Kathmandu. He described how water surged into the cabin as the rain intensified on Friday night, stating, 'We jumped out, swam, and got away from it - but my purse, bag, and mobile have been swept away by the river. I have nothing now. We stayed the whole night in the cold. ' Another resident, Bishnu Maya Shretha, expressed her disbelief at the severity of the flooding this season, saying, 'We had run away the last time, but nothing happened. But this time all the houses were flooded. ' As the water levels rose, she and her family had to cut a hole in their roof to escape, jumping from one roof to another until they finally reached a concrete house. To date, more than 2,000 individuals have been rescued from the floods. The government has mobilized 10,000 police officers, along with volunteers and army personnel, to assist in the search and rescue operations. Government spokesman Prithvi Subba Gurung informed the state-run Nepal Television Corporation that the flooding has also damaged water pipes and disrupted telephone and power lines. The Nepalese government has urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and has imposed a ban on nighttime driving in the Kathmandu valley. Air travel has also been impacted, with numerous domestic flights delayed or canceled. The monsoon season in Nepal typically brings floods and landslides each year. However, scientists have noted that rainfall events are becoming increasingly intense due to climate change. A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, while warmer ocean waters can energize storm systems, leading to more erratic weather patterns. Videos have surfaced showing rescuers searching for survivors amid the wreckage of a bus, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the nation in the wake of this disaster.