At Least 60 Dead in Nepal, India Amid Floods

At least 60 people have been killed following heavy rains that triggered floods and landslides across Nepal and northeastern India, according to local authorities on Sunday.

In India, torrential rainfall between Saturday night and Sunday caused multiple landslides in the Darjeeling region of West Bengal, killing at least 20 people and leaving several others missing.

Indian MP Harsh V. Shringla stated on the social media platform X that more than twenty people had lost their lives so far, adding that entire mountain areas have been cut off, with roads and infrastructure severely damaged.

The continuous rainfall has paralyzed transportation networks, isolating rural communities and hampering rescue efforts as emergency teams struggle to reach the affected highlands.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Nepal, at least 42 people have died and five remain missing due to landslides and flash floods caused by days of intense monsoon rains. Shanti Mahat, spokesperson for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, told AFP that the fatalities occurred across several provinces, with rescue operations still underway.

Authorities in both countries have warned that the death toll may rise as more areas become accessible and search operations continue.

The heavy downpours are among the most severe recorded this monsoon season, prompting renewed calls for stronger disaster-preparedness measures in the Himalayan region, which is increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events linked to climate change.