On Monday afternoon, moderate rainfall in Kavre caused a major flood. A woman went missing after being swept away by the flood, and several roads and physical structures were damaged.
Since Monday afternoon, efforts have been ongoing to clear and reopen the blocked roads.
According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, moderate rainfall was recorded in Khopasi and Roshi on Monday afternoon. In the past 24 hours, Khopasi received 43.4 mm of rain and Roshi got 41 mm. Rainfall between 10 mm and 50 mm is considered moderate.
Meteorologist Hari Prasad Dahal said the rainfall was caused by moist air coming from local winds and the Arabian Sea. Though it was only moderate, it caused damage due to other factors.
During the pre-monsoon season, rainfall doesn’t spread evenly—some places stay dry while others get heavy rain. This is called “scattered rainfall.” The flood in Kavre was the result of such scattered rain, said Dahal. He added that even though this kind of rain is common, the damage caused needs further study to find out the reasons.
Meanwhile, heavy rain was recorded in Tamghas, the headquarters of Gulmi district, with 54.4 mm of rain in 24 hours. Musikot in Gulmi received 34.4 mm and Panchamul in Syangja got 35.2 mm. However, no damage has been reported in those areas.
Which Areas Were Affected in Kavre?
Flood damage was reported in Wards 3 to 10 of Panauti Municipality. Roshi and Temal Rural Municipalities were also affected by floods and landslides.
A temporary drinking water pipe, which was repaired after last year’s flood, was washed away again. About 3 kilometers of temporary roads were also swept away. Potato and other crops planted in fields were submerged.
A culvert pipe on the road from Sipali (Roshi-6) to Mahabharat Rural Municipality was also washed away.
The worst-hit areas, according to the District Police Office, are Panauti, Katunje Besi, Boksikuna, and Mamti. In Mamti, both lanes of the road are blocked. In Katunje Besi and Boksikuna, only one lane is open. Repair work has started early this morning in these affected areas.
Worry Before Monsoon Even Starts
Before the monsoon season has even begun, floods have already started causing problems in Kavre. This has raised concerns that the situation could worsen during the actual monsoon.
Last year, in October, floods and landslides in Kavre killed 78 people, left 6 missing, and injured 79. Huge damage was also reported to homes, farming, livestock, schools, roads, communication, water supply, and electricity—worth millions of rupees.
Crusher industries were blamed for much of the damage. A meeting of the District Monitoring Committee on January 23, 2025, concluded that river-based crusher industries and the area’s geographic conditions were the main reasons behind the floods and landslides.
