Disasters claim 160 lives across Nepal in three months

KATHMANDU: Nepal recorded 3,296 disaster-related incidents across the country in the past three months, resulting in the deaths of 160 people, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

The authority said that from Baisakh 1 to Asar 32 (mid-April to mid-July), two people went missing and 945 others were injured in various disaster events. A total of 4,375 families were affected during the period.

According to NDRRMA, fire incidents were the most frequent, with 897 cases reported. These incidents claimed 17 lives, injured 109 people, and affected 990 families.

Meanwhile, 514 snakebite cases were recorded during the three-month period, leading to 38 deaths, injuries to 479 people, and affecting 517 families.

The authority also reported 477 incidents of windstorms, which resulted in 13 deaths, injuries to 68 people, and affected 1,356 families.

Similarly, 433 landslide incidents were recorded, killing 12 people, injuring 15, and impacting 351 families.

Lightning strikes also caused significant losses, with 223 incidents reported. The disasters claimed 24 lives, injured 120 people, and affected 262 families.

NDRRMA’s data showed that 181 wildlife attack incidents occurred during the period, resulting in 17 deaths, injuries to 103 people, and affecting 287 families.

Flood-related incidents accounted for 161 cases, causing nine deaths, leaving two people missing, injuring nine others, and affecting 396 families.

Likewise, 153 heavy rainfall incidents were recorded, killing four people, injuring one, and affecting 132 families.

The authority also reported 55 altitude sickness cases, in which 21 people died while 35 others remained ill. One rockfall incident claimed two lives.

In addition, Nepal witnessed 191 forest fire incidents during the period, resulting in one death and two injuries. Two avalanche incidents were also reported, causing one death and one injury.

The disaster figures highlight the continued vulnerability of communities across Nepal to multiple natural hazards, particularly during the monsoon season.