Landslides in Nepal: An Escalating Natural Disaster

 This year’s summer monsoon has once again brought frequent landslides, floods, and debris flows across Nepal — a pattern also seen across South Asia.


Landslides are a natural process where soil, rock, and earth slide downhill, but in Nepal, they are becoming deadlier due to heavy rains, fragile geology, rising temperatures, and human activities such as road construction and deforestation.


According to Nepal’s Disaster Risk Reduction Portal (2011–Aug 2025), 4,629 landslides have been recorded, causing nearly 1,906 deaths, 1,591 injuries, and over Rs 20.66 billion in damages. The frequency has risen sharply — from less than 1 landslide per 1,000 km² in 2011 to almost 7 in 2024.


Recent examples highlight the scale of the problem:


Prithvi Highway (Dhading, Aug 8, 2025): Multiple landslides blocked traffic for hours.


Rapti Highway (Salyan, Aug 4): Closed due to landslides in Chorkhola.


Karnali Highway (Kalikot): Repeated blockages.


Araniko Highway (Sindhupalchok, Aug 7): Blocked at Ikhu.


Gulmi, Palpa, Kalikot: Multiple slides disrupting roads in early August.


Landslides are not just cutting off transport but also threatening homes. In Baglung’s Nisikhola Rural Municipality, over 2,400 households are at high risk. During the 2024 monsoon, landslides and floods hit 21 districts, damaging health facilities and disrupting essential services.


Climate change is making things worse. Melting glaciers and permafrost are triggering more rockfalls and avalanches. Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are also rising — like the May 2025 flood in Humla that displaced villagers, and the July 2025 Bhotekoshi flood that destroyed the Friendship Bridge, killed at least eight people, and swept away hundreds of vehicles.


Unplanned roads, unstable slopes, poor drainage, and unchecked urban growth further increase risks.


The way forward: Experts stress the need for better disaster management — including mapping landslide-prone zones, slope stabilization, early warning systems, risk-sensitive land planning, and stricter infrastructure regulations. Financial tools like insurance and reinsurance could also help protect communities.


Without stronger policies, engineering safeguards, and climate resilience, landslides will continue to destroy lives, property, and infrastructure during the monsoon season.

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