Kathmandu, Nepal - September 28, 2024

Major floods and landslides triggered by relentless rainfall have battered Nepal, killing almost 200 people and causing widespread destruction.

Officials reported on Monday that the death toll from the monsoon floods and landslides has risen to 193 across the Himalayan nation, with at least 31 people still missing and many others injured.

The catastrophic floodwaters have destroyed many homes, cut off highways, and downed power lines.

Almost one-third of the country’s power supply, around 1,100 MW of electricity, was shut down by flooding and nearly all the country’s highways, including those connecting the capital city of Kathmandu to the rest of the country, have been blocked by flooding, landslides and debris, according to police.

Maya Hhapa Magar, a resident of Balkhu, a suburb of Kathmandu, recounted the terrifying moment the floodwaters arrived and wreaked havoc.

Rainfall of this intensity has not been seen in over a decade, with some of the worst-hit areas reporting up to 322.2 mm over the last few days.

Nepal has seen higher than average monsoon rainfalls since the monsoon started in early June.

Shotlist:
Kathmandu, Nepal - Sept 28, 2024:
1. Various of raging flood waters;
Balkhu, Nepal - Sept 29, 2024
2. SOUNDBITE (Nepali, dubbed in English) Maya Hhapa Magar, resident (starting with shot 1):
"It was around 4:30 in the morning. The flood entered here and swept away everything. Everything is destroyed. There is nothing out here. We don't have anything to eat. Everything is swept away by the flood. We were at least able to escape and save ourselves.";
Kathmandu, Nepal - Sept 28, 2024
3. Various of flooded road, buildings, vehicle underwater;
Lalitpur, Nepal - Sept 29, 2024
4. SOUNDBITE (Nepali, dubbed in English) Rajesh Kumar Maharjan, resident (partially overlaid with shot 5):
"Compared to last year, the water level has increased. It has reached the highest level. I had seen such a flood around 15 to 20 years ago. This flooding is something unimaginable for us.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Kathmandu, Nepal - Sept 28, 2024
5. Floodwaters;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
6. Floodwaters;
7. Vehicle submerged by floodwaters.

[Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]