SATV, Kathmandu, Sept. 30 - At least 27 people have died in 542 disaster incidents reported across Nepal following heavy rainfall in recent days.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), four people went missing and eight others were injured in weather-related disasters recorded from Sept 24 to 27.

A total of 1,082 families were affected, while 114 livestock were killed or otherwise lost.

Landslides accounted for the highest number of incidents, with 304 cases reported during the period.

They killed 20 people, left four missing and injured seven others.

Flooding caused 87 incidents, resulting in four deaths, while 151 incidents linked to heavy rainfall claimed three lives and injured one person.

Heavy rain completely damaged 227 houses and partially damaged another 142.

Floods and landslides also damaged 31 bridges.

The NDRRMA said more than 100 millimetres of rain was recorded at 186 rainfall measuring stations across the country during the four days.

Daidagaun in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East) recorded the highest rainfall at 544.2 millimetres, followed by Panchase in Kaski with 500.2 millimetres and Atraulitar in Tanahun with 472 millimetres.

The authority attributed the widespread heavy rainfall to a low-pressure system that developed over the Bay of Bengal.

Nearly 1 million people warned through early alerts

The NDRRMA said it had strengthened early warning and preparedness measures before the rainfall began to reduce the risk of disasters.

Its Situation Room continuously monitored weather and disaster risks, disseminated information and coordinated with relevant agencies for 76 hours during the period.

More than 980,000 people received flood warning SMS messages through telecommunications service providers.

The alerts also reached more than 5,000 people involved in emergency response and around 9,000 tourists, according to the authority’s report.

The NDRRMA also extended the flood forecasting period for major rivers from three days to five days.

For smaller rivers and streams, the forecast period for sudden floods was increased from 24 hours to 48 hours.

Nearly 2,000 people rescued

NDRRMA spokesperson Shanti Mahat said around 2,000 people at risk from rain-related disasters were moved to safer locations during the period.

People trapped by floods and landslides in remote districts including Jajarkot, Myagdi and Baglung were rescued by helicopter.

Security personnel from the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force Nepal and Nepali Army were deployed for search, rescue and relief operations.

Mahat said 78 people at risk in Paudwar of Annapurna Rural Municipality-5 in Myagdi were airlifted to safety on Sept 27.

The authority’s report also said four people stranded on an island in the middle of the Bheri River in Jajarkot were rescued by air.

River blockages trigger alerts in Manang, Mustang

Heavy rainfall also caused landslides that obstructed river flows in Manang and Mustang on Sept 27.

According to Mahat, a landslide in Chame, Manang, obstructed the flow of the Marsyangdi River on the evening of Sept 27.

Similarly, a landslide in Thasang Rural Municipality-3 of Mustang obstructed the flow of the Kali Gandaki River.

The NDRRMA alerted responders in the affected districts and local governments to maintain high vigilance in downstream areas and move families living in vulnerable locations to safer places.

After Sept 28, water levels in major rivers, including the Narayani, gradually began to recede, with the overall situation moving towards normalcy, the authority said.