Nepal has been devastated by floods, landslides, and inundations that have claimed the lives of at least 192 people, with 30 others still reported missing due to continuous rainfall in the last few days.

According to Rishiram Tiwari, spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs, an additional 194 individuals have been injured in various disaster-related incidents across the country. As of now, more than 4,500 people affected by the natural calamities have been rescued, thanks to the joint efforts of all security agencies involved in search and rescue operations.

Emergency relief efforts have been ramped up, with provisions of food and medical aid to those affected. Tiwari assured that the injured are receiving free medical treatment. Authorities are also working diligently to reopen blocked highways to restore vital transportation links.

In Makawanpur district, efforts to clear major roadways have led to partial reopening of several routes. Roads connecting Hetauda to Kathmandu, as well as the Hetauda-Dharan-Chatara and Hetauda-Bhaise roads, have been reopened after landslides caused major obstructions. Traffic along the Simbhanjyang-Palung-Naubise and Hetauda-Sindhuli-Dharan-Chatra roads along the Madan Bhandari Highway also resumed earlier today.

Additionally, the Tribhuvan Highway’s Hetauda-Bhaise-Chitlang-Chandragiri-Kathmandu section has reopened, though many other areas remain affected by landslides. Major roadblocks include the Kulekhani-Fakhel-Pharping route, disrupted by landslides at Ram Chandra Bhanjyang along the Dakshinkali-Chhaimle-Sisneri road, and the Thankot-Kulekhani road, which remains blocked at Simlang in Indra Sarovar Rural Municipality-1.

Similarly, landslides continue to obstruct the Hetauda-Kulekhani road, particularly at Ratomate of Bhimphedi Rural Municipality-4 and Dhokaphedi of Bhimphedi-6. Efforts to clear these areas are ongoing.

Meanwhile, traffic has resumed on the Bimalnagar-Anbu Khaireni road section along the Prithvi Highway after the removal of a large boulder in Bandipur Rural Municipality, Tanahun district. On Sunday, only one-way traffic was possible, but the full reopening of the route on Monday has brought some relief to the affected region.

Despite the restoration of certain roads, multiple routes remain closed or partially operational as authorities continue their efforts to clear debris and ensure the safety of travelers.

As one of Nepal’s biggest festivals approaches, the country finds itself grappling with a series of devastating disasters that have claimed lives, destroyed infrastructure, and cast a shadow of sorrow over the nation.

With an increased number of people traveling from the capital or returning home for the festival, the catastrophic state of Nepal’s roads has only deepened the nation’s despair. The government’s response to the unfolding tragedy has been alarmingly inadequate, offering little more than pain and frustration to the people.

The disasters, marked by widespread flooding and landslides, have wreaked havoc across the country. Individuals who waited for hours to be rescued were swept away by floods and travelers in vehicles were engulfed by landslides.

The capital city has faced immeasurable losses but what stands out amid the chaos is the glaring absence of timely government intervention.

Monsoon-related disasters were expected to affect an estimated 1.8 million people, encompassing 412,000 homes across Nepal (as per early monsoon analysis of the government). While the government did announce preparedness measures at the onset of the monsoon, these have proved woefully insufficient. The lack of a coordinated, rapid response during critical hours has left many wondering whether the nation’s leadership is truly there for its people when they need it most.

The scale of the disaster and the apparent indifference of the authorities have added fuel to the growing discontent within the country’s leadership. As communities mourn their dead and brace for more uncertainty, the fate of those, especially those who live in already precarious conditions, are further left to navigate the immediate and long term impact of natural disasters.