Monsoon yet to set in, but Karnali is already seeing rain losses
Summary
Floods and landslides in Karnali Province, triggered by heavy rain and glacial lake bursts, have caused extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and farmland with increasing risk worsened by climate change and post-earthquake vulnerabilities.
Key Points
- Severe rainstorms and hail recently triggered floods in Humla's Nepka village, damaging homes, livestock sheds, and farmland before the monsoon season began.
- Karnali Province, characterized by steep terrain, faces increasing flood and landslide risks, with 3,671 landslides recorded last year and nearly 900 settlements vulnerable.
- Floods and landslides since fiscal year 2015-16 have caused losses of Rs10.94 billion and claimed 617 lives in Karnali Province.
- Post-earthquake settlements in Jajarkot and Rukum West face elevated landslide risks due to weakened soil and fractured ground, leading to fatalities and recommendations for relocation.
