Landslides in Nepal: A growing natural crisis
Summary
Nepal is facing a growing crisis of frequent landslides and floods exacerbated by climate change, erratic monsoon rains, and fragile geology, impacting transport, communities, and infrastructure across the country.
Key Points
- Frequent landslides and floods during Nepal's monsoon are causing significant deaths, injuries, and economic damage.
- Landslide incidents in Nepal have risen sharply, from 0.85 per 1000 km² in 2011 to 6.82 in 2024.
- Infrastructure disruptions are severe, with major highways like Prithvi, Rapti, Karnali, and Araniko blocked multiple times.
- Addressing this requires integrated disaster risk management, improved land-use planning, early warning systems, and policy enforcement.
