Kathmandu: Kanchanpur in Sudurpaschim Province has recorded the highest rainfall in the past 78 years, with the Nepal Police reporting 80 fatalities due to floods, landslides, and other monsoon-related hazards so far this season.

Spokesperson of the Nepal Police, Deputy Inspector General Dan Bahadur Karki, stated that the fatalities include one person in the Kathmandu Valley, 19 in Koshi Province, three in Madhes Province, four in Bagmati Province, 22 in Gandaki Province, 20 in Lumbini Province, four in Karnali Province, and seven in Sudurpaschim Province.

In addition to the deaths, five persons remain missing, and 97 others have been injured. The search for the missing individuals is ongoing, and the injured are receiving treatment at local hospitals. The police also reported that 53 individuals have been rescued.

The distribution of injuries includes three in Kathmandu Valley, 21 in Koshi Province, five in Madhes Province, four in Bagmati Province, 26 in Gandaki Province, four in Lumbini Province, 15 in Karnali Province, and 10 in Sudurpaschim Province.

A total of 161 houses were inundated, and 138 houses, 54 sheds, 41 bridges, one school, and two government offices suffered damages due to the floods. So far, 2,764 families have been displaced by disaster-related incidents. Local authorities are actively working to relocate families at risk of floods to safer locations.

Kanchanpur's Dodhara, Hanumannagar, and Sundarpur areas received unprecedented rainfall on July 7 and 8, marking the highest rainfall since 2003 B.S. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Dodhara recorded 624.0 mm of rain, Hanumannagar 573.6 mm, and Sundarpur 555.8 mm within a 24-hour period.

The monsoon, which began in East Nepal on June 10, remained active from June 28 to July 8. Previously, the highest recorded rainfall was 516.2 mm in Hetauda, Makwanpur on 29 Saun 2074 BS, and 540.0 mm at Tistung Rain Center, Makwanpur on 5 Saun 2050 BS.

Pratibha Manandhar, a senior meteorologist, indicated that while the monsoon was previously active in Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces, it has now shifted to Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Lumbini, and Gandaki provinces. Heavy rainfall is expected in some areas of these provinces tonight and on Wednesday night.