Heavy rainfall forecast across Nepal: Govt issues four-day travel and safety advisory
KATHMANDU: Nepal is on high alert for intense rainfall, floods, and landslides over the next four days as a fresh low-pressure system from the Bay of Bengal fuels active monsoon conditions across the country.
According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), the weather will remain generally cloudy nationwide, with moderate to heavy rainfall forecast from October 3 to 6 in Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces.The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, through a press statement issued Thursday evening, confirmed that a monsoon low-pressure system has moved inland from Odisha, India, and is advancing towards central India, drawing moisture-laden monsoon winds into Nepal. This is expected to intensify rainfall activities from October 4 to 6 (Ashoj 17–20).
The release further warned that river levels in Narayani, Bagmati, Kamala, and Koshi rivers, along with their tributaries, could rise significantly, possibly reaching danger marks. Sudden flooding is also likely in smaller rivers and streams flowing through the Chure and Mahabharat ranges.”Special caution is advised, particularly between October 4 and 6, in districts such as Kathmandu Valley, Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk, Rasuwa, Makawanpur, and Chitwan in Bagmati Province; Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, Ilam, Jhapa, and Morang in Koshi Province; and Bara, Parsa, Sarlahi, and Rautahat in Madhesh Province,” the DHM stated.The department urged the public to regularly check official forecasts and flood alerts via its website, social media, toll-free hotline (1155), and SMS services.
In response to the forecast, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has issued a four-day travel advisory (October 3–6), urging the public to avoid long-distance and nighttime journeys unless absolutely necessary.”Given the risk of floods, landslides, and rising water levels in rivers, we strongly urge people to remain cautious and limit unnecessary travel,”
NDRRMA added.Residents near riverbanks have been advised to identify higher ground for possible evacuation, while local governments and security forces have been placed on standby with heavy machinery such as dozers and excavators for road clearance operations.Authorities have already restricted vehicular movement at night on two key routes connecting Hetauda and Kathmandu.
Starting tonight, vehicles will not be allowed on the Kanti Highway from 4:00 pm to 6:00 am, and on the Hetauda–Bhaise–Kathmandu road from 5:00 pm to 6:00 am, until October 6, according to the Makawanpur District Administration Office.The District Administration Office in Lalitpur has also echoed warnings, highlighting flash-flood and landslide risks along the Kanti Highway and routes connecting Bagmati and Konjyosom rural municipalities. Similarly, the Kathmandu DAO has also issued the advisory requesting all citizens to exercise special caution and be alert in their respective areas during this period. It has also requested people not to travel unless absolutely necessary and not to travel at night to enter or exit Kathmandu Valley during this period.
Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal directed authorities to ensure disaster preparedness remains “effective and people-centered” during a virtual meeting on Thursday.The meeting was attended by Home Secretary Rameshwar Dangal, senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, chiefs of all four security agencies, Chief District Officers from all 77 districts, and representatives from District Security Committees.Nepal’s monsoon season, which entered the country on May 28 and spread nationwide by June 20, has been unusually prolonged this year.
According to the metereologists at the DHM, while the tentative monsoon onset date is June 13, this year it arrived 15 days earlier and its withdrawal is also expected to be delayed.The monsoon became active again from October 2 due to a trough shifting from the Bay of Bengal towards Nepal.
Heavy rains are expected until Sunday, after which conditions should gradually improve with the influence of westerly winds, the DHM further stated.October 3–6: Moderate to very heavy rain across Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, and LumbiniSaturday & Sunday: Strongest downpours expectedFrom Monday: Gradual improvement in weather conditionsAuthorities have urged the public to remain vigilant, especially in hilly regions and low-lying flood-prone areas, as Nepal braces for an extended bout of monsoon rains.
