Avalanche sweeps Nepal mountain, killing 2 and leaving 12 missing

Heavy rain unleashed floods and landslides in northern India and Nepal, resulting in at least 68 fatalities over the past three days, according to disaster officials. In India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, 56 people were killed, with over 1,000 houses destroyed, reported the Relief Commissioner's office. Nepal, already grappling with devastating floods on August 26, suffered another wave of flooding and landslides that claimed 12 lives since Thursday.

Shanti Mahat, a spokesperson for Nepal's disaster authority, told AFP that seven others were still missing. Climate scientists have warned of a rise in extreme weather events in South Asia, attributing them to global warming and shifting climate patterns. Last month's flooding in Nepal, caused by a glacial landslide on the China-Nepal border, left over 1,400 people dead and thousands missing.

Uttar Pradesh, home to more than 240 million people, is regularly hit by heavy rains and thunderstorms during the annual monsoon season from June to September. The latest tragedy unfolded during an exceptionally heavy downpour, with 66.5 millimeters of rain recorded in Uttar Pradesh between Friday and Sunday, far exceeding the season's average of 7.6 millimeters.

The intense rainfall caused significant damage to crops, prompting farmers to worry about delays in sowing for the upcoming season. In the eastern state of Odisha, over 70,000 people residing in flood-prone areas were evacuated as rivers overflowed due to heavy rainfall, as reported by NDTV news. The rains inflicted damage on bridges and culverts, leading officials to close Devkund, a popular tourist destination.

Monsoon-related disasters are a recurring phenomenon in India following its long summer months, which often bring water scarcity and drought to many regions.