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Floods and landslides kill scores across northern India and Nepal

Floods and landslides kill scores across northern India and Nepal

Built World

September floods kill 108; new flash flood in Nepal leaves 5 missing

October 18th, 2026: Nepal plans to drain four dangerous glacial lakes

Overview

Updated Oct 19

At least 108 people died in September flooding across northern India and Nepal. A flash flood hit Nepal's Gorkha district on October 11; Nepal's disaster authority says an avalanche of rock and ice triggered it, echoing the mountain collapse that unleashed August's deadly flood.

Five people are missing and 95 have been rescued after the flood, which destroyed 45 houses and damaged bridges and hydropower plants along the Budhi Gandaki river. Floodwaters from the September rains also breached embankments on the Gandak and Narayani rivers, submerging parts of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Survivors are digging their homes out of the mud.

Why it matters

Back-to-back floods in Nepal and India are testing relief systems already strained by August's disaster.

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Key Indicators

81
Deaths in Uttar Pradesh
Three days of rain from September 25-27 killed 81 across 56 districts.
27
Deaths in Nepal (September)
Floods and landslides killed at least 27 in Nepal since September 24, with 4 missing and 8 injured.
5
Missing in Gorkha flood
Five people went missing after the October 11 flash flood along the Budhi Gandaki river in Gorkha district.
95
Rescued in Gorkha
Nepali Army helicopters rescued 95 people, including nine foreign nationals, after the October 11 flood.
45
Houses destroyed in Gorkha
Preliminary assessments show 45 houses completely destroyed and 27 partially damaged in Chumnubri.
775%
Excess rainfall in Uttar Pradesh
66.5mm fell against a normal 7.6mm for the September 25-27 period.
1,021
Houses damaged in Uttar Pradesh
Mostly mud homes and huts in rural areas that could not withstand the rain over three days.

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People Involved

Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod
Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod
Relief Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh
Coordinating rescue and relief operations across affected districts
 Atul Kumar Singh
Atul Kumar Singh
Senior scientist, Regional Meteorological Centre, Lucknow
Tracked the depression that caused the rains
 Abi Narayan Kafle
Abi Narayan Kafle
Deputy Inspector General and Spokesperson, Nepal Police
Reporting rescue figures for Nepal
NS
Narayan Prasad Sapkota
Administrative chief, Chumnubri Rural Municipality
Coordinating rescue and relief in Gorkha's flood-hit areas

Organizations Involved

India Meteorological Department
India Meteorological Department
National Meteorological Service
Issued red alerts and tracked the depression

India's national weather service, which monitors monsoons and issues rainfall and storm warnings.
UP
Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner's Office
State disaster management agency
Coordinating relief and rescue

The state office that coordinates disaster response, compensation and relief distribution across Uttar Pradesh's 75 districts.
Nepal National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority
Nepal National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority
Nepal federal disaster agency
Coordinating response to the October 11 Gorkha flash flood and reporting on the September floods

Nepal's federal body for disaster risk reduction and response coordination.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
Federal disaster-response force
Deployed in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh

India's federal disaster response force, deployed for flood rescues and relief in affected states.
Bihar Disaster Management Department
Bihar Disaster Management Department
State disaster management agency
Coordinating relief and rescue in flooded districts

The state agency coordinating Bihar's flood response, including embankment monitoring and evacuation operations.
World Food Programme (WFP)
World Food Programme (WFP)
United Nations agency
Sending food and relief supplies to Gorkha flood victims

The UN's food assistance agency, which is supporting Nepal's flood response.
NA
Nepali Army
National military
Conducting search and rescue in Gorkha

Nepal's military, which deployed helicopters for rescue operations after the Gorkha flood.

Timeline

September 2026 October 2026

12 events Latest: October 18th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago Showing 8 of 12
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Nepal plans to drain four dangerous glacial lakes

    Latest Preparedness

    Nepal announced plans to drain four high-altitude glacial lakes considered particularly dangerous, along with sensors, flood forecasting systems and new drainage infrastructure, to cut the risk of future glacier-related floods.

  2. Avalanche identified as Gorkha flood trigger

    Official Report

    Nepal's disaster authority said an avalanche of rock and ice triggered the October 11 flash flood along the Budhi Gandaki river, echoing the mountain collapse that unleashed August's deadly flood.

  3. UN rushes aid to Gorkha flood victims

    Relief

    The UN is supporting Nepal's NDRRMA in getting food to affected communities. The World Food Programme sent three trucks of ready-to-eat food and relief supplies.

  4. Flash flood hits Budhi Gandaki river

    Disaster

    A landslide on Shringi Himal blocked the Wingilung stream, which feeds the Budhi Gandaki river in Gorkha district. When the blockage gave way, a surge of mud and debris swept through settlements, destroying 45 houses and damaging bridges and hydropower plants.

  5. Bihar flood threat widens

    Warning

    Authorities warn of further flooding as Gandak and Ganga rivers near danger levels, with NDRF and SDRF teams deployed across affected districts.

  6. Narayani embankment breach floods Kushinagar

    Disaster

    A breach in the Narayani River's embankment submerged parts of Kushinagar district in Uttar Pradesh, prompting rescue operations.

  7. Gandak embankments breach in Bihar

    Infrastructure

    Three embankments along the Gandak River burst in West Champaran district, flooding low-lying villages and prompting evacuations.

  8. Nepal revises death toll to 27

    Official Report

    NDRRMA reports 27 killed in rain-induced disasters since September 24, with four missing and eight injured.

  9. Death tolls reported

    Official Report

    Officials report 81 dead in UP and 21 in Nepal; rescue operations continue.

  10. Storm weakens, river blockage forces evacuations

    Weather Event

    Depression weakens into low-pressure area; Marsyangdi blockage forces Chame evacuations in Nepal.

  11. Flooding spreads, Nepal hit

    Disaster

    Flooding spreads to 56 of 75 UP districts; landslides hit Nepal's mountain districts.

  12. Heavy rain begins in Uttar Pradesh

    Weather Event

    Deep depression from Bay of Bengal reaches Uttar Pradesh, triggering heavy rain across the state.

Scenarios

1

Uttar Pradesh death toll crosses 100

Deadline passed (Oct 15, 2026)

Discussed by: Indian Express and NBC News, which reported rising tolls as assessments continued

As floodwaters recede, officials confirm more deaths from drowning, electrocution and building collapses in remote districts. The toll rose from 56 to 81 between September 27 and 28, and remote villages remain cut off.

2

Waterborne disease outbreak follows flooding

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Public health officials in both countries, who routinely warn of post-monsoon disease risk

Standing water and damaged sanitation in flooded districts raise the risk of cholera, dengue and leptospirosis. Health authorities monitor for outbreaks in the weeks after floodwaters recede.

3

Nepal reconnects flood-cut transport links

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Rising Nepal Daily, which reported the bridge loss disrupted food and fuel access

The Kali Gandaki Bailey bridge loss forces longer routes for transport between Butwal, Pokhara and Baglung. Reconstruction determines how quickly residents regain access to food, fuel and health services.

4

More embankment breaches worsen Bihar flooding

Deadline passed (Oct 10, 2026)

Discussed by: Bihar Disaster Management Department, Rediff News

Weak points along the Gandak and Ganga rivers could fail again as floodwaters continue moving downstream. Multiple embankments have already burst, and authorities are monitoring river levels daily.

5

Gorkha missing found

Deadline passed (Oct 31, 2026)

Discussed by: Nepali Army and local authorities conducting search operations

The five people who went missing while grazing sheep near the Wingilung stream may be found as search operations continue. They were staying in a shed near the stream when the flood hit.

6

Gorkha settlements reconnected

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Kathmandu Post, which reported severed road and trail connections

The flood destroyed bridges and trekking trails in northern Gorkha, leaving settlements dependent on air transport. Reconstruction of bridges and trails will determine how quickly residents regain access to food, fuel and health services.

7

Gorkha Families Face Months of Recovery

Likely Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: France24, which reported survivors assessing homes buried in sludge

The flood buried homes and swept away bridges and trails in northern Gorkha, leaving settlements dependent on air transport. Rebuilding damaged infrastructure will take months, and displaced families need relief to get by until then.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

August 2026

August 2026 Nepal floods

Floods killed more than 1,400 people in Nepal and left more than 5,000 missing in what officials called the country's worst disaster in years. The August 26 flood overwhelmed villages and infrastructure across the country.

Then

Nepal was still recovering and rebuilding when the September rains hit, with many families in temporary shelter.

Now

Back-to-back disasters strain Nepal's relief capacity and test whether lessons from August speed up response.

Why this matters now

The September floods struck the same communities still recovering from August, compounding damage to homes, roads and bridges.

Sources

(23)
+17
RamRajya News Rising Nepal Daily The Indian Express NBC News DAWN Pakistan Today ABP Live The Hindu The Times of India Business Today Rediff.com AP News BBC News UN News Kathmandu Post Firstpost KioskNews New Age France 24 India New England News The Indian Express Kathmandu Post The Times of India