Yellow alert issued for 41 districts as sudden flood risk looms

KATHMANDU:  The Flood Forecasting Division has issued a yellow alert for 41 districts across Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley, due to the risk of sudden floods in local rivers today (Sunday, August 4).

The division has urged the public to exercise caution as heavy rainfall is likely to intensify river flows in several regions.

This morning’s river flow measurements indicated that the water levels in the Karnali and Mahakali rivers are near the alert threshold.

Meanwhile, the Koshi, Narayani, Kamala, Bagmati, Eastern Rapti, Western Rapti, Babai, and Kankai rivers are currently below the warning levels but are expected to rise throughout the day.

In the eastern hills, rivers flowing through Ilam, Jhapa, Taplejung, Panchthar, Sankhuwasabha, and Tehrathum are projected to experience significant increases in water levels, with a moderate risk of flash floods.

Similarly, the central Terai districts like Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, and Parsa are also under moderate flood risk.

In the western and midwestern regions, small rivers passing through Doti, Dadeldhura, Baitadi, Dolpa, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Rukum West, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet, Kailali, and Kanchanpur are likely to see a considerable surge, posing a high possibility of sudden floods.

Additionally, the flood division has highlighted the increased flood risk in rivers flowing through Syanja, Tanahun, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Arghakhanchi, Dhading, Nuwakot, Kavrepalanchok, Sindhupalchok, Sindhuli, Dolakha, Rasuwa, Parbat, Myagdi, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, though the risk level in these areas remains moderate.

Widespread rainfall is expected to persist today, and authorities are monitoring rivers closely in the alerted districts, which have been placed under a yellow warning status.