Floods, landslides kill 56 in India, 12 in Nepal

Severe flooding and landslides have resulted in the tragic loss of at least 56 lives in India's Uttar Pradesh state and 12 fatalities in neighboring Nepal. The region experienced an unprecedented downpour, with Uttar Pradesh receiving 66.5mm (2.6 inches) of rain from Friday to Sunday morning, significantly more than the usual 7.6mm (a quarter of an inch) for the period.

Uttar Pradesh relief commissioner Hrishikesh Bhaskar Yashod reported that the excessive rainfall, caused by a depression over the Bay of Bengal moving inland, led to the disaster. More than 1,000 homes were destroyed and over 46 people were injured. The densely populated state, home to over 240 million people, is frequently affected by monsoon rains and thunderstorms between June and September.

In Odisha, a state in eastern India, more than 70,000 residents in low-lying areas were evacuated due to rising river levels. The heavy rains caused damage to bridges and culverts, leading officials to close Devkund, a popular tourist destination. Authorities have warned that 30 river-monitoring stations across seven states are in a critical situation, with major rivers like the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Bagmati, and Narmada surpassing danger levels.

Nepal, which suffered a devastating flood in late August that claimed over 1,400 lives and left thousands missing, is now grappling with fresh flooding and landslides. Twelve people have died since Thursday, with several others still missing. Officials have issued warnings of potential flash floods in 49 out of Nepal's 77 districts, with half of them facing high flooding or flash-flooding risks as water levels in major rivers and tributaries continue to rise.

Power supplies have been disrupted in several districts, including Manang, Mustang, Myagdi, and Baglung.